Pascal, Blaise (1623–1662)

Pascal was born at Clermont-Ferrand in France on June 19, 1623. His mother died when he was 3 years old. He was an obviously bright child, and his father initially forbade his study of mathematics, preferring that he become fluent in the classics instead. Of course, this [Page 745]merely spurred Pascal's curiosity, and he swiftly began solving geometric problems for himself. By the age of 17, he had published a paper (on conic sections), and at 18, he invented his first calculator. This was the first of several adding machines, some of which cleverly worked to different bases (e.g. both 12 and 20).

From mathematics, Pascal turned to physics, observing that the atmospheric pressure was lower at the top of the mountain than at the bottom. This observation had followed a visit by Descartes, in which the two had discussed whether a vacuum could exist. Apparently, Descartes left, remarking that Pascal “had too much vacuum in his head.”

When Pascal's father injured his leg, religious brothers cared for Pascal, and this marked the beginnings of Pascal's religious conversion. In 1650, he took a break from science to consider religion, but following the death of his father in 1653, he returned to scientific and mathematical studies. At this time, he introduced the numerical configuration now called Pascal's triangle. His correspondence with Fermat laid the foundations for the modern treatment of probability.

Once again, however, fate took a hand. In 1654, he had a traffic accident: his carriage veered off the road, and he escaped death only because the harness straps broke. Shortly afterwards, Pascal had a vision: He wrote an account of this vision that he kept on his person for the rest of his life. He then began writing philosophical and theological pieces. The last and best known of these was entitled Pensées (Thoughts), which was unfinished at the time of his premature death in Paris on August 19, 1662. It is in the Pensées that Pascal argued that it is always a better “bet” to believe in God than not to believe in God. This is because the expected value to be gained from believing in God must be greater than the expected value for nonbelievers!