what is Pascal's wager?

Answer 1

A scary person making excuses for believing in a God...34

Answer 2

Pascal's Wager (or Pascal's Gambit) is the application by the French philosopher Blaise Pascal of decision theory to the belief in God. It was set out in the Pensées, a posthumously published collection of notes made by Pascal towards his unfinished treatise on Christian apologetics.

The Wager posits that it is a better "bet" to believe that God exists than not to believe, because the expected value of believing (which Pascal assessed as infinite) is always greater than the expected value of not believing. In Pascal's assessment, it is inexcusable not to investigate this issue:

Before entering into the proofs of the Christian religion, I find it necessary to point out the sinfulness of those men who live in indifference to the search for truth in a matter which is so important to them, and which touches them so nearly.[1]

Variations of this argument may be found in other religious philosophies, such as Islam, and Hinduism. Pascal's Wager is also similar in structure to the precautionary principle.

Answer 3

"The Wager posits that it is a better "bet" to believe that God exists than not to believe, because the expected value of believing (which Pascal assessed as infinite) is always greater than the expected value of not believing. In Pascal's assessment, it is inexcusable not to investigate this issue"

The problem is that Pascal suggests that a gods existance is a 50/50 chance (it isn't), and he assumes that the Christian god would be the only possible correct one when there are thousands of gods throughout history and, if a god exists, its quite likely that it isn't any god that human beings have thought up yet.

There are massive flaws in Pascals logic but the Christians love to try to throw it in the Atheists face anyway because they don't understand what it is that they're suggesting.

Answer 4

It's an analysis of the expected benefits of believing in god vs. not believing in god.

The idea behind it is that if god believers are right, they get everything; if they're wrong they lose nothing. If non-believers are wrong, they lose everything; if they're right, they gain nothing.

Pascal's Wager essentially says it is therefore better to believe in God, just in case he's real.

Answer 5

Basically that it is a good bet to be a christian as you don't lose anything either way.

The problem is that there are a number of gods that could be real, so you would need to believe in all of them.

Answer 6

it has to do with Christian apologetics

like betting in gods exits
is more important than believing

Answer 7

A belief system in God.

Answer 8

Around here it's a drinking game...

Answer 9

A reason to drink.

Answer 10

sounds like food...