THE IMPORTANCE OF SILENCE IN THE 21st CENTURY MAN AS A PATH TO

PROFOUND HAPPINESS ACCORDING TO BLAISE PASCAL

Angelito D.C. Almario

I. Background of the Study

Ours is a loud age… ours is a restless age.1

It is good to see the development in our world today. Part of that development is the
advance technologies that somehow benefits us in many ways and slowly, it becomes
essential part of our day-to-day life. Another, part of that development is the modern
communication through social media. The use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr,
and other medium of communication in this modern world. Furthermore, it will have more
updates and developments in the technologies and Social Medias for the future. In this sense,
we even internalize it, drawing it into ourselves in greater doses until we not only make
noise, but are noise, plugged into the agitation and clamour of the world and unable to watch
or click or share our way out of it.2

Into this situation, the world wants least but needs most is stillness and silence. On
his interview with Nicolas Diat, Robert Cardinal Sarah said the “disturbing” sound of
silence just doesn’t feel like an option. “We ceaselessly need to hear the noise of the world:
today logorrhea is a sort of imperative, and silence is considered a failure.”

What is it then that this desire and this inability proclaim to us, but that there
was once in man a true happiness of which there now remain to him only the
mark and empty trace, which he in vain tries to fill from all his surroundings,
seeking from things absent the help he does not obtain in things present? But
these are all inadequate, because the infinite abyss can only be filled by an
infinite and immutable object, that is to say, only by God Himself.3

1
Matthew Becklo, “Cardinal Sarah dares the world to be silent,” Aleteia,
https://aleteia.org/2017/05/05/cardinal-sarah-dares-the-world-to-be-silent.html (accessed November 29,
2019)
2
Ibid.
3
 Silence therefore, is necessary to attain profound happiness in the 21st century.
Thus, this paved the way for me to delve into the deeper meaning of silence according the
the philosophy of Blaise Pascal and take a stand that silence is necessary as a means to
attain profound happiness.

II. Significance of the Study

This philosophical paper will greatly benefit generally, the people of the 21st
century who are into technological breakthroughs and who already think that gadgets are
already second part of their nature, since they will be aware that silence still has the more
powerful effect in achieving perfect happiness. Furthermore, this will be a revelation for
them to be reminded about the importance of happiness according to Blaise Pascal.

III. Thesis:

21st century individual can attain happiness through Silence in the light of Blaise
Pascal’s Philosophy towards contemplation.

IV. Review of Related Literature

Pascal, Blaise. Pensees. England; Penguin Books Ltd., 1995

This book is a collection of philosophical fragments, notes, and essays in which he explores
the contradictions of human nature in psychological, social, metaphysical, and theological.
Humanity emerges from Pascal’s analysis as wretched and desolate creature within an
impersonal universe, but also as a being whose existence can be transformed through faith
in God’s grace. Thus Pascal once said that; “Interior rest and harmony can flow only from
silence. Without it, life does not exist. The greatest mysteries of the world are born and
unfold in silence.” In silence, where so many of us see an unsettling absence.
Robert Cardinal Sarah. The Power of Silence; Against the Dictatorship of Noise. USA;

Ignatius Press, 2017.

This article stressed the importance of silence in the modern age in all dimensions
of life. As Sarah mentioned explicitly in the article, “Interior rest and harmony can flow
only from silence. Without it, life does not exist.” This article supports my claim that
silence is necessary to define life. Without silence, life is not really life. Our present age
always seeks for merriment and yet, they find temporary happiness amidst all the laughter
and enjoyment that they feel. Actually, that happiness does not last. Thus, silence is badly
needed in our times.

Aghamohammadi, Mchdi. “Silence, an Eye of Knowledge” International Journal of

Education and Literacy Studies, Vol. 5, no. 2 (April 2017) 20-28.

This unpublished thesis stated that silence was not a mere theory, but rather a phenomenon
from which we can get practical benefits. Thus, silence for the author was an eye of
knowledge. This article supports my claim that silence does not simply give us time to
reflect but we can derive practical benefits from it. It provides wisdom of life more than
techniques that we could apply in solving problems. Thus, silence provides us wisdom.

V. General Argument

The paper will use the Historical Contextualization to present Blaise Pascal notion
of Silence to be able for the 21st century individual to attain profound happiness in spite of
noisy world. The writings of Blaise Pascal will be evaluated to decode the meaning and
importance of silence to attain profound happiness. Furthermore, this paper will present a
deeper way to attain profound happiness through silence towards contemplation.
Outline:

I. Introduction
II. Body
A. Concept of 21st Century Man
1. Definition of Modern Age
2. Definition of Modern Man
B. Concept of Silence by Blaise Pascal
1. Meaning of silence by Pascal
C. Silence as a path in attaining happiness through Blaise Pascal’s Concept
1. Importance of Silence in attaining happiness
III. Conclusion