XI Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2019

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) was a French mathematician, physicist, religious philosopher and writer. He formulated one of the main theorems of projective geometry. Works on arithmetic, number theory, algebra, probability theory.

Blaise Pascal designed (1641, according to other sources — 1642) summing machine. One of the founders of hydrostatics, established its basic law (Pascal's Law: the pressure on the surface of the liquid produced by external forces, the liquid is transmitted equally in all directions). Pascal's law is based on the action of hydraulic presses and other hydrostatic machines.

Works on the theory of air pressure. Having become acquainted with the Jansenism, Blaise Pascal with 1655 led polumonashesky life. The controversy with the Jesuits was reflected in the" Letters to the provincial " (1656-57) — a masterpiece of French satirical prose. In "Thoughts" (published in 1669). Pascal develops the idea of the tragedy and fragility of man, located between two abyss — infinity and nothingness (man — "thinking cane"). A way of understanding the mysteries of life and the salvation of man from despair seen in Christianity. B. Pascal played a significant role in the formation of French classical prose.

Blaise Pascal-son of Etienne Pascal and Antoinette, born Begon, was born in Clermont on 19 June 1623. The whole family Pascals differed outstanding abilities. As for Blaise himself, he showed signs of extraordinary mental development from an early age.

The second task is much more difficult. Both were solved simultaneously in Toulouse by the mathematician Fermat and in Paris by Pascal. On this occasion, in 1654 between Pascal and the Farm began correspondence, and not being personally acquainted, they became best friends. The farm decided the two tasks invented by the theory of combinations. Pascal's solution was much simpler: it is based on purely arithmetical considerations. Without being jealous of the Farm, Pascal, on the contrary, rejoiced at the coincidence of the results and wrote: "From now on I would like to reveal my soul to you, so I am glad that our thoughts met. I see the truth is the same in Toulouse and in Paris."

Probability theory has a huge application. In all cases, when the phenomena are too complex to allow an absolutely reliable prediction, the probability theory makes it possible to obtain results that are very close to the real and quite suitable in practice.

Work on the theory of probability led Blaise Pascal to another remarkable mathematical discovery, he made the so-called arithmetic triangle, which allows you to replace many very complex algebraic calculations with simple arithmetic operations.

One night, tormented by severe toothache scientist suddenly began to think about issues relating to the properties of the so — called cycloid-curve line indicating the path traversed by a point rolling in a straight line of the circle, such as the wheel. One thought was followed by another, the whole chain of theorems was formed.

The astonished scientist began to write with extraordinary speed. All study was written in eight days, with Pascal wrote immediately, not rewriting. Two printing houses barely kept up with him, and just written sheets immediately surrendered to the set. Thus, the latest scientific works of Pascal were published.

This remarkable study of the cycloid brought Pascal closer to the discovery of differential calculus, that is, the analysis of infinitesimal quantities, but still the honor of this discovery did not go to him, and Leibniz and Newton. Whether Blaise Pascal is healthier in spirit and body, he would certainly bring his work to an end. In Pascal we see already quite clear idea of infinite quantities, but instead of developing it and applying it in mathematics, Pascal took a wide place infinite only in his apology of Christianity.

Pascal did not leave behind a single whole philosophical treatise, however, in the history of philosophy, he occupies a definite place. As a philosopher Blaise Pascal represents a highly peculiar combination of a skeptic and a pessimist with a sincerely believing mystic; echoes of his philosophy can be found even where they are least expected. Many of Pascal's brilliant thoughts are repeated in a slightly modified form not only by Leibniz, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Arthur Schopenhauer, Leo Tolstoy, but even by a thinker as opposite to Pascal as Voltaire. For example, the well-known position of Voltaire, stating that in the life of mankind small reasons often entail huge consequences, inspired by the reading of "Thoughts" Pascal.

The "thoughts" of Pascal are often compared with the "experience" of Montaigne and the philosophical writings of Descartes. Pascal borrowed some thoughts from Montaigne, conveying them in his own way and expressing them with his concise, fragmentary, but at the same time figurative and fiery syllable with Rene Descartes Blaise Pascal agrees only on the issue of automatism, and even in that recognizes, like Descartes, our consciousness immutable proof of our existence. But the starting point of Pascal and in these cases is different from the Cartesian. "I think, therefore — exist," says Descartes. "I sympathize with others, so I exist, and not only materially, but also spiritually," says Pascal. Descartes has a deity no more than as an external force; for Pascal the deity is the beginning of love, at the same time external and present in us Pascal mocked the Cartesian notion of a deity no less than his "subtlest matter".

The last years of Pascal's life were a series of continuous physical suffering. He endured them with amazing heroism. Having lost consciousness, after a daily agony Blaise Pascal died August 19, 1662, thirty-nine years old.

Sources

1 https://ru.wikipedia.org

2 https://obrazovaka.ru

3 https://interesnie-fakti.net

4 https://www.nastroy.net

5 https://www.allsoch.ru