D. Ellis Overttun
Member
What does anyone think about Pascal's wager?
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What does anyone think about Pascal's wager?
I don't accept the premises.What does anyone think about Pascal's wager?
I only bet on sure things.What does anyone think about Pascal's wager?
I would agree. However, the wager is essentially a hedge on a short position. I saw this hedge take effect as my father got older. It has not happened to me but I have a direct observation that I can point to.I don't accept the premises.
Have you ever been married?I only bet on sure things.
Came close twice, but managed to regain my sanity just in time.Have you ever been married?
Given the wager is a hedge, doesn't it only matter IF a particular religion is right as opposed to the likelihood of it being right?I like to gamble only when the odds are in my favor. One reason why Pascal's wager loses meaning is the existence of multiple religions with varying levels of likelihood of being right.
So I guess you really on do bet on sure things.Came close twice, but managed to regain my sanity just in time.
If you disagree with the premises, there is no need for protecting yourself.Given the wager is a hedge, doesn't it only matter IF a particular religion is right as opposed to the likelihood of it being right?
If you are sincere, there is no trick.I don't think a god would be fooled by a mental parlor trick.
Please clarify what you mean by "protecting yourself".If you disagree with the premises, there is no need for protecting yourself.
I agree with the passive aggressive comment. I had it put to me when I was a kid. However, it does have a certain appeal to the pragmatic side of me. It might be despicable but "Why take the risk?" does have a certain logic. Although, there is a certain appeal to "laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints".Pascal's Wager is just theists being passive aggressive, hoping to 'persuade' new recruits to sign up to their religion with the subtle threat of eternal damnation. It is pretty despicable in terms of trying to frighten people who may be gullible and/or naïve, and as others of pointed out it is self defeating as there are multiple deities and multiple hells to choose from on the religious market. As a man once said, all religions cannot be right, but they can all be wrong.
If you are sincere, there is no trick.
Hedging is done to protect one's investment. Where there is no investment, there is no need to protect it.Please clarify what you mean by "protecting yourself".
I agree with the passive aggressive comment. I had it put to me when I was a kid.
However, it does have a certain appeal to the pragmatic side of me. It might be despicable but "Why take the risk?" does have a certain logic. .
Perhaps, but I think Pascal might have been saying (as a practical matter) it is better to choose one than choose none.I think it borders on ridiculous when you take into account not just a theists/atheist dichotomy, but also factor in the variance amongst different theistic belief systems.