Difference between revisions of "Pascal's wager"
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#If God does exist and you do believe in God, you will receive an eternity in [[heaven]]; infinite gain. | #If God does exist and you do believe in God, you will receive an eternity in [[heaven]]; infinite gain. | ||
| − | [[Blaise Pascal]] reasoned that, given the relative gains and losses for each scenario, the only sensible course for a rational human being was to believe in God since the potentially infinite gains and losses which occur if God exists outweigh any possible loss in a finite situation if God does not exist. This is true regardless of what probability one assigns to God's existence as long as some possibility is assigned. | + | [[Blaise Pascal]] reasoned that, given the relative gains and losses for each scenario, the only sensible course for a rational human being was to believe in God since the potentially infinite gains and losses which occur if God exists outweigh any possible loss in a finite situation if God does not exist. This is true regardless of what probability one assigns to God's existence as long as some possibility is assigned<ref>Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy</ref>. |
==Critical evaluation== | ==Critical evaluation== | ||
| − | Pascal's wager as Pascal stated it is flawed within the context of [[Christianity]], | + | Pascal's wager as Pascal stated it is flawed within the context of [[Christianity]]; presumably, an omnipotent God would be able to detect such a deception<ref>The God Delusion</ref>. |
| − | Pascal's wager is also not geared for multiple competing god scenarios where various forms or selections of gods are given that may be mutually or partially exclusive. | + | Pascal's wager is also not geared for multiple competing god scenarios where various forms or selections of gods are given that may be mutually or partially exclusive. The probability of believing in the wrong god would mitigate any perceived advantage of making the wager<ref>Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy</ref>. |
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Philosophy]] | [[Category:Philosophy]] | ||
[[Category:Theology]] | [[Category:Theology]] | ||
Revision as of 21:42, June 20, 2009
Pascal's Wager is a philosophical proposition which takes the following form:
God either exists or not.
- If God does not exist and you do not not believe in God, you gain nothing and lose nothing.
- If God does exist and you do not believe in God, you are condemned to hell for eternity; infinite loss.
- If God does not exist and you do believe in God, you gain nothing and lose nothing.
- If God does exist and you do believe in God, you will receive an eternity in heaven; infinite gain.
Blaise Pascal reasoned that, given the relative gains and losses for each scenario, the only sensible course for a rational human being was to believe in God since the potentially infinite gains and losses which occur if God exists outweigh any possible loss in a finite situation if God does not exist. This is true regardless of what probability one assigns to God's existence as long as some possibility is assigned[1].
Critical evaluation
Pascal's wager as Pascal stated it is flawed within the context of Christianity; presumably, an omnipotent God would be able to detect such a deception[2]. Pascal's wager is also not geared for multiple competing god scenarios where various forms or selections of gods are given that may be mutually or partially exclusive. The probability of believing in the wrong god would mitigate any perceived advantage of making the wager[3].
