Pascals Wager
"Who is God? Where is God? Does God really exist? Should I believe in God?" These are some of the questions which are asked by millions of people each and every day who are desperately trying to find some meaning in their life. Blaise Pascal tried to help society, as well as himself, to find the best solution to these problems. Pascal attempted to determine if it was worth it to bet on God's existence. Were the atheists right in not wasting their time concerning the existence of God? Have the true believers all been hoaxed into one big illusion? Although a person will not actually be able to find out the truth until they are dead, Pascal compared the gains and losses of believing there is ...
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life, one chance of winning against a finite number of chances of losing.... This leaves only one choice open, in any game that involves infinity, where there is not an infinite number of chances of losing to set against the chances of winning. There is nothing to ponder- you must stake everything"( Pascal,1995, no.418) His wager can basically be summed up as:
If God REALLY exists, and we believe (= bet that God exists), we have an infinite gain (heaven).
If God REALLY exists, and we don't believe that, then we have the potential of an infinite loss (hell, or at least eternal separation from God).
If God really does NOT EXIST, and we believe that God exists, we essentially lose nothing.
If God really does NOT EXIST, and we believe that God doesn't exist, we essentially gain nothing.
Therefore, it is better to believe in the existence of God.(www.saintmarys.edu)
Obviously Pascal is trying to defend the belief in god using this proof. It's important always to remember Pascal's ...
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price to be paid. If one's life is permanent than the belief in God may lose the only one chance of luxury. Of course, Pascal is assuming that the majority of the world has a "tainted" view and is self-indulgent.
Pascal did not claim this wager to determine if God exists. He merely, is explaining that in the situation we as society are in, it is the best bet to believe in God. He clearly states this in Pensees not trying to convince people that there is a God but to explain why they should believe there is one. In addition, Pascal is coming from a more pragmatic view of the situation, even though this wager was made in thought of the Catholic Church. People can also think of this wager ...
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"Pascals Wager." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 12 Apr. 2004. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Pascals-Wager/6114>
"Pascals Wager." Essayworld.com. April 12, 2004. Accessed April 18, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Pascals-Wager/6114.
"Pascals Wager." Essayworld.com. April 12, 2004. Accessed April 18, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Pascals-Wager/6114.
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