Blaise Pascal (1623 – 1662) was a French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher. A child prodigy, he made early contributions to geometry and probability theory, influencing modern economics and science. At 16, he wrote a treatise on conic sections.
In the 1640s, he developed Pascal’s calculator, an early mechanical device for computations. His work in fluid mechanics helped establish Pascal’s Law, and he advanced barometric studies by expanding on Torricelli’s experiments.
After a religious experience in 1654, he turned to Jansenist theology, writing Pensees, which included Pascal’s Wager, a probabilistic argument for faith. His health deteriorated, and he died at 39, leaving a legacy that bridges mathematics, physics, and philosophy.