Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662) At age 16, formulated...

11
Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager Blaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662) At age 16, formulated one of the basic theorems of projective geometry, known as Pascal’s theorem 1642 - invented the first mechanical adding machine 1648 - proved Torricelli’s sea of air hypothesis

Transcript of Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662) At age 16, formulated...

Page 1: Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662)  At age 16, formulated one of the basic theorems of projective geometry, known.

Pascal's wager ~ slide 1

Pascal’s wager

Blaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662) At age 16, formulated one of the

basic theorems of projective geometry, known as Pascal’s theorem

1642 - invented the first mechanical adding machine

1648 - proved Torricelli’s sea of air hypothesis

Page 2: Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662)  At age 16, formulated one of the basic theorems of projective geometry, known.

Pascal's wager ~ slide 2

Pascal’s wager

Page 3: Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662)  At age 16, formulated one of the basic theorems of projective geometry, known.

Pascal's wager ~ slide 3

Pascal’s wager

1654 - together with Pierre de Fermat, formulated the mathematical theory of probability

The famous wager, from the Pensées (1670) God is “infinitely incomprehensible”

and completely transcendent, completely different than us.

Page 4: Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662)  At age 16, formulated one of the basic theorems of projective geometry, known.

Pascal's wager ~ slide 4

Pascal’s wager

How, then, can faith in God’s existence be justified?

Reason cannot decide, but we must make a choice. Refusing to choose is itself a choice with immense consequences.

What choice should we make?

Page 5: Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662)  At age 16, formulated one of the basic theorems of projective geometry, known.

Pascal's wager ~ slide 5

Pascal’s wager

The wager A. If one bets that God exists, then

there are two possible outcomes (1) God exists (one wins the

bet); one gains much -- one enjoys eternal bliss.

(2) God does not exist (one loses the bet); one loses very little.

Page 6: Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662)  At age 16, formulated one of the basic theorems of projective geometry, known.

Pascal's wager ~ slide 6

Pascal’s wager

B. If one bets that God does not exist, the outcomes are: (3) God does not exist (one

wins the bet); one gains very little.

(4) God does exist (one loses the bet); the consequences are immense -- eternal loss.

Page 7: Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662)  At age 16, formulated one of the basic theorems of projective geometry, known.

Pascal's wager ~ slide 7

Pascal’s wager

Now comparing A & B, we see that the choice is clear. Choose A.

Final piece of advice What should we advise a person

who wishes to believe but cannot? Act as if you believe, “taking the

holy water, having masses said, etc.” (65).

Page 8: Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662)  At age 16, formulated one of the basic theorems of projective geometry, known.

Pascal's wager ~ slide 8

Pascal’s wager

Critical evaluation of Pascal’s wager Comment: This is not an argument

for the existence of God (as a truth-claim); reason by itself cannot tell us whether God exists. Rather it is an argument for the

justification of faith in the existence of God. He offers a reason why we ought to believe in God.

Page 9: Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662)  At age 16, formulated one of the basic theorems of projective geometry, known.

Pascal's wager ~ slide 9

Pascal’s wager

Does the fact that the wager is practically useful mean that it is true? Claims can be useful, but false (e.g., wolves are vicious).

Pascal’s conception of God -- God is so far beyond that he cannot be known & hence the need to resort to the wager. This conception of God is contrary to Judaism, Christianity, & Islam.

Page 10: Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662)  At age 16, formulated one of the basic theorems of projective geometry, known.

Pascal's wager ~ slide 10

Pascal’s wager

Does Pascal’s conception of the Jewish & Christian God one-sided? Does it emphasize some attributes of God & without considering others?

Page 11: Pascal's wager ~ slide 1 Pascal’s wager zBlaise Pascal (French, 1623-1662)  At age 16, formulated one of the basic theorems of projective geometry, known.

Pascal's wager ~ slide 11

Pascal’s wager

William James’ objection: The wager does not work without a predisposition to believe.