Pascal’s Wager
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PASCAL’S WAGER “It is “infinitely” more rational to believe in God than not to. If God exists, the “pay off” is so enormous and there is no loss if He does not.”
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Pascal’s Wager. “It is “infinitely” more rational to believe in God than not to. If God exists, the “pay off” is so enormous and there is no loss if He does not.”. “Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connait point.” Pascal (Pensees, IV. 277) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Pascal’s Wager
PASCAL’S WAGER
“It is “infinitely” more rational to believe in God than not to. If God
exists, the “pay off” is so enormous and there is no loss if He does not.”
“Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connait point.”
- Pascal (Pensees, IV. 277)
The heart has its reason which the mind knows nothing of.
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher & theologian.
Inventor of a calculating machine at 19.
Author of the books L’Esprit Geometrique, Ecrits Sur La Grace(Writing on Grace), De l’Esprit Geometrique(On the Mathematical Mind), De l’art de Persuader(On The Art Of Persuasion) & “Pensees”(Thoughts).
Pascal’s method- the reader must learn how to follow the process of the mind of the intelligent believer.
The problem of knowledge becomes a religious one.
Pensees
Original title: Apologie de la religion Chrétienne ("Defense of the Christian Religion")
Most influential theological work.Contains Pascal’s Wager
Wagering whether God exists or not. Pascal advises us to adopt the existence of
God as a working assumption. Pascal believes that the grace that can
make a person a true believer can come only from God.
The Apologetic Method
Conclusion
“Argument du pari”- proof of God from the chances of a wager concerning the meaning of existence.
The life of man is by nature such that it forces you to a decision- the decision is up to you.
