Philosophy of Religion Research

The Analysis of Pascal’s Wager with Emphasis on the Decision-Making Theory

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Assistant Professor at Department of Philosophy and Kalam at Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Iran

2 MA in Philosophy and Kalam at Imam Sadiq University, Tehran. Iran

Abstract

One of the arguments for proving God’s existence and the intelligibility of religious beliefs is that which is known as Pascal’s Wager. According to this highly disputable argument, in the absence of sufficient theoretical and rational evidence for proving God’s existence, the only intelligible and cautious option is belief in God, the afterlife, and shaping our lives thereon. A prudent and expedient mind necessitates the consideration of God and the justification of religious beliefs when it comes to decision-making and practice.
This argument is polished by the decision-making theory and by considering discourses on “rules of probability”, “expected utility” and “ risk-taking”, and had led to four new expositions: the argument from dominance, argument from expected utility, argument from dominating expected utility, and argument from strong dominance.

Keywords

 
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Philosophy of Religion Research
Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
November 2005
Pages 129-163