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| | [[Image:Pscal.jpg|thumb|right|Blaise Pascal]] | | [[Image:Pscal.jpg|thumb|right|Blaise Pascal]] |
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| − | '''Blaise Pascal''' (1623-1662) was a [[French]] [[mathematician]] and [[philosopher]]. [[Homeschooled]] by his father. | + | '''Blaise Pascal''' (1623-1662) was a [[French]] [[mathematician]] and [[philosopher]], who was [[homeschooled]] by his father. |
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| − | Pascal wrote his first scientific paper at age 8 and by 16 had written a mathematical essay advancing the field of [[geometry]]. | + | A child prodigy, Pascal wrote his first scientific paper at age 8 and by 16 had written a mathematical essay advancing the field of [[geometry]]. |
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| | At age 19, Pascal invented the first calculating machine. At age 23, Pascal proved the existence of the [[vacuum]], which made possible barometers, hydraulic devices and hypodermic syringes. | | At age 19, Pascal invented the first calculating machine. At age 23, Pascal proved the existence of the [[vacuum]], which made possible barometers, hydraulic devices and hypodermic syringes. |
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| − | Pascal is credited with developing the mathematical [[Probability|theory of probability]] (along with Pierre de Fermat), and he discovered the significance of what is now known as [[Pascal's triangle]]. He also contributed to [[calculus]].
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| − | <blockquote>
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| − | ''Experimenting with the vacuum, Pascal published in 1663 his study TRAITÉ DE LA PESANTEUR DE LA MASSE DE L'AIR, where he argued that "experiments are the true teachers which one must follow in physics"... Pascal´s studies deeply influenced the development of modern essay writing. The idea of intuition as presented in Pensées had an impact on the philosophy of [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]] (1712-1778), [[Edmund Husserl]] (1859-1938), and [[Henri Bergson]] (1859-1941) '' [http://kirjasto.sci.fi/bpascal.htm]
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| − | </blockquote>
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| | At age 31, Pascal developed a deep relationship with [[Christ]]. To help others know Christ, Pascal proposed a "wager" ([[Pascal's wager]]): | | At age 31, Pascal developed a deep relationship with [[Christ]]. To help others know Christ, Pascal proposed a "wager" ([[Pascal's wager]]): |
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| | :{{Pascal on depravity}} | | :{{Pascal on depravity}} |
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| | + | Pascal is credited with developing the mathematical [[Probability|theory of probability]] (along with [[Pierre de Fermat]]), and he discovered the significance of what is now known as [[Pascal's triangle]]. He also contributed to [[calculus]]. |
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| | + | <blockquote> |
| | + | ''Experimenting with the vacuum, Pascal published in 1663 his study TRAITÉ DE LA PESANTEUR DE LA MASSE DE L'AIR, where he argued that "experiments are the true teachers which one must follow in physics"... Pascal´s studies deeply influenced the development of modern essay writing. The idea of intuition as presented in Pensées had an impact on the philosophy of [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]] (1712-1778), [[Edmund Husserl]] (1859-1938), and [[Henri Bergson]] (1859-1941) '' [http://kirjasto.sci.fi/bpascal.htm] |
| | + | </blockquote> |
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| | [[File:Blaise Pascal PD WC.jpg|thumb|Anonymous painting.]] | | [[File:Blaise Pascal PD WC.jpg|thumb|Anonymous painting.]] |
| | His famous ''Provincial Letters'' directed against the Jesuits, and his ''Pensées'', were written towards the close of his life.<ref>[http://www.maths.tcd.ie/pub/HistMath/People/Pascal/RouseBall/RB_Pascal.html Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662)]</ref> | | His famous ''Provincial Letters'' directed against the Jesuits, and his ''Pensées'', were written towards the close of his life.<ref>[http://www.maths.tcd.ie/pub/HistMath/People/Pascal/RouseBall/RB_Pascal.html Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662)]</ref> |
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| | ''Man is but a reed, the weakest thing in nature; but he is a thinking reed.'' | | ''Man is but a reed, the weakest thing in nature; but he is a thinking reed.'' |
| | </blockquote> | | </blockquote> |
| − | Pascal cited fulfilled prophecies as one of the most important factors in his faith.<ref>{{cite book |author=Philip J. Yancey|title=Bible Jesus Read|publisher=Zondervan|year=1999|place=Grand Rapids, Michigan|pages=24|isbn=0-310-24566-4|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=KFSWSzyEZL4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Bible+Jesus+read&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qaN7UdubK87R4QScnYGgDg&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Pascal&f=false}}</ref> | + | Pascal cited fulfilled [[prophecy|prophecies]] as one of the most important factors in his [[faith]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Philip J. Yancey|title=Bible Jesus Read|publisher=Zondervan|year=1999|place=Grand Rapids, Michigan|pages=24|isbn=0-310-24566-4|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=KFSWSzyEZL4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Bible+Jesus+read&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qaN7UdubK87R4QScnYGgDg&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Pascal&f=false}}</ref> |
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| | From 1660 to 1662 Pascal worked on a public transportation system for [[Paris]]. | | From 1660 to 1662 Pascal worked on a public transportation system for [[Paris]]. |