Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Catholic theologian of the 17th century. He was a child prodigy who was educated by his father, a local judge. Pascal's earliest work was in the natural and applied sciences where he made important contributions to the study of fluids, and clarified the concepts of pressure and vacuum by generalizing the work of Evangelista Torricelli. Pascal also wrote in defense of the scientific method.
In mathematics, Pascal is known for his work on probability theory, particularly for his formulation of Pascal's triangle, and for Pascal's theorem in projective geometry. He also wrote a treatise on the arithmetical triangle.
Pascal also wrote on theology and philosophy, and made important contributions to the development of both the modern theory of probability and decision theory. He was a devout Christian and his religious writings, particularly the Pensées, had a significant influence on the development of Christian existentialism.
In addition to his work in mathematics and science, Pascal was a skilled inventor and engineer. He constructed the first mechanical calculator capable of performing all four arithmetic operations, and designed an early version of the syringe.
Pascal died at the age of 39, but his work laid the foundation for many important developments in mathematics, science, and philosophy in the centuries that followed.
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