Who wants to answer another Pascal Wager's?

Question

I find it funny I see this term used so often.
But when you think about it--I mean REALLY think about it.
There IS an answer.
If a plane was going down and you are on that plane, and someone offered you a parachute, would you take it?

Answer 1

Not really a big fan of Pascal's Wager, but that's a very good use of it. For those that don't understand. Pascals Wager says that if your options are
A) Maybe good, maybe neutral
or
B) Maybe bad, or maybe neutral

you should go with A. It's a true principle. He was a brilliant mathemetician. The question doesn't require too much thought.
If you take the parachute, you could still possibly die due to malfunction, or you could be saved by it working.
If you don't take it, you most certainly will die.

So the answer of course is to take it.

And for the person above me, yeah, atheism is the perfect choice isn't it? It's the only choice where you're certain to be damned rather than just possibly be damned.

Answer 2

Pascals wager assumes that there's no advantages for being an atheist. If there's a god, and it has intentionally provided no information of its existence because of the fact it would not choose us to stick to any god (quite not made up gods), then purely people who lack thought could be rewarded.

Answer 3

I'd take the parachute. Odds are I'd be the only atheist on the plane, and judging from the comments I see here, I'd assume that the Christians wouldn't want the parachute, as they're so looking forward to death anyway.

LOL at Godsknite's "And for the person above me, yeah, atheism is the perfect choice isn't it? It's the only choice where you're certain to be damned rather than just possibly be damned".

Utterly clueless, aren't you?
Here's a hint: Your argument amounts to "First, let's assume that I'm right. Now, if we look at things logically, we can see that I'm right. Therefore I'm right".
That first step is a lulu...

Answer 4

If someone offered me an imaginary parachute I think I'd thank them for the thought but decline. Even Pascal ended up admitting this wager was lame. Picking a God doesn't mean you would pick the right one of all the choices available and most religions claim exclusivity in salvation for only their believers.


I love Kharm's atheist wager!

Answer 5

Others have stated Pascal Wager is only related to the existance of God. While that was Pascals point, his "wager" can be applied to many arguments.

Pascals Wager is a flawed argument. An argument where there are only two possible solutions. When in actuality there can be more.

Example:
The brakes go out in your car. Would you (a) crash and die or (b) jump out and survive with injuries.

But in actuality there are other solutions. (c)Emergency brake (d) turn off engine and coast to stop

Your question does not apply Pascals Wager.

Answer 6

Not if the plane was going to slam into a non-existent, fantasy earth....what would be the point?

See, the flaw is that a plane is real and crashing and dying are real possibilities. And, I have two outcomes - either I accept and live, or crash and die.

With Pascal's Wager, you are betting your non-existent "eternal soul" that God is real - and that he is the Christian God. However, what if you pick the wrong God - what if it turns out to be Thor with his hammer? Ra with his beast that eats hearts?? Now youre really screwed!

So, there is no response for Pascal's Wager. It is flawed argumentation.

Answer 7

sure. we KNOW for a FACT a parachute can actually save your life in that circumstance.

over 70% of the people on earth reject the bible and christianity for the superstitious, unprovable nonsense that it is.

but, 70% of the people on earth wouldn't reject a parachute in the circumstance you are describing.

if this is your first attempt at using logic, then I see the problem here. tell me how your parachute example IN ANY WAY relates to Pascal's Wager.

NOW. Here's a real twist for ya, sweetie-kins. Don't hurt your head thinking THIS over:

Since you think heaven is so great and all the blah-blah, YOU wouldn't take the parachute, would you? just go to your reward, right? go down with the plane and be with your jesus-myth that YOU know, in your mind, is real... in fact, dont' give the parachutes to anyone, so they can all go to some great reward, right? why even help a car crash victim? let them die and be with blah-blah in heaven, right?

Answer 8

*drink*
And, what guarantee do I have that the parachute will open? that it won't be filled with holes? that there's no anvil attached to it? Is it made by ACME?
If you're going to make this Pascal with a twist (although I honestly don't see the true comparison here), Pascal had a better wager than this one.

Answer 9

If a plane was going down and you are on that plane, and someone offered you an anvil, would you take it?

You can't prove that you are offered an anvil or a parachute.

Answer 10

Well what does taking an offered parachute have to do with PW.

Thanks for the drink though.