Criticism of Pascals Wager Essay - 1544 Words

The proof for the existence of God is an issue that may never be resolved. It has caused division among families and friends, nations and society. The answer to the question â€Å"does God exist?† is almost an impossible one to give with certainty seeing that there is a variety of people, ideas, cultures and beliefs. So how does one know if one’s actions here on earth could have eternal consequences? What is, if any, a â€Å"safe bet† to make? Blaise Pascal was a 15th century philosopher and a mathematician who proposed the idea that although one cannot know for certain that God exists, one can make a â€Å"safe bet† that it is far better to believe in God than not to believe in God. This is not a proof for the existence of God but rather an idea that†¦show more content†¦But even so, when thought about it carefully, that person lived an admirable life—a life to be proud of. All the earthly pleasures mentioned above will not take a great de al of importance at the end of that person’s life. Thus, one can conclude that even though the person in a sense did â€Å"waste† time praying, going to Mass, offering sacrifices, perhaps in the priesthood, living a chaste and celibate life, and fasting, all of these things were not for the detriment of the person but for the benefit of the person. On the other hand Pascal presents another situation in his argument. If a person does not believe in God and lives a completely sinful lifestyle—partying, receiving all pleasures, drinking, doing heroin, having a blast—and in the end finds out that there is not a God, then that person is â€Å"free† in a sense. That person will not be eternally condemned for all the wrongdoing that person did in life. In Pascal’s final scenario, he presents an alternative outcome to the previous situation. If the aforementioned person comes to the end of life to find out that there is a God then that person has lo st everything. That person will receive the ultimate punishment: eternal damnation in the absence of God. Hence Pascal’s belief that it is in a person’s best interest to believe in God because the odds are in the favor of the believer. However, Pascal’s argument has quite some flaws in the way it is brought forth.Show MoreRelatedEssay on Pascal’s Wager984 Words   |  4 PagesIn this paper I will be discussing Pascal’s Wager. What I first plan to do in this paper is explain the argument of Pascal’s Wager. Next I will explain how Pascal tries to convince non-theists why they should believe in God. I will then explain two criticisms in response to Pascal’s argument. Finally, I will discuss whether or not these criticisms show Pascal’s reasoning to be untenable. 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Pascal came up with a theory of understanding the consequences ofRead MoreEssay about The Existence of God1350 Words   |  6 PagesGod is given the attributes of being a rational moral being that is concerned with the notion of human justice and suffering because of the fact that he is all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere at once (50). Given such characteristics draws criticism and ire considering that on any given day the world as we know it is plagued by death, pain, suffering, and an overall unsatisfactory life. It goes on to say that if God was what he is thought to be and more shouldn’t his power reflect as a utopianRead More A Critical Discussion of Blaise Pascals The Wager Essay example2074 Words   |  9 Pages A Critical Discussion of Blaise Pascals The Wager   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the gambling world bets are made based on odds, the probability or likelihood that something would happen. In the court of law, cases are decided upon by the weight of evidence presented by the respective parties. The common link between these general scenarios is that decisions are made based on some outside evidential factor. The more probable something is likely to happen, or the more evidence presented in favor or opposed to somethingRead MoreDoes God Exist?1366 Words   |  5 Pagesof a higher being or God, some of the main ones are; Pascal’s Wager, the Ontological argument, the Cosmological argument, the Teleological argument, the Moral argument, and the argument from religious experience. A classic argument that is used a lot is the first cause that states †all events in the natural world must have a cause therefore God must be the initiator of all events.† So my question is; is there a higher being or God? Pascal’s Wager which, is an idea that was established by a man named