Single Idea 7457

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 2. Proofs of Reason / d. Pascal's Wager]

Full Idea

Pascal's argument is valid, but it is presented with a monstrous premise of equal chance. We have no good reason for picking a half as the chance of God's existence.

Gist of Idea

Pascal is right, but relies on the unsupported claim of a half as the chance of God's existence

Source

comment on Blaise Pascal (Pensées [1662], 418 (233)) by Ian Hacking - The Emergence of Probability Ch.8

Book Reference

Hacking,Ian: 'The Emergence of Probability' [CUP 1975], p.68


A Reaction

That strikes me as the last word on this rather bizarre argument.