more from Blaise Pascal

Single Idea 6684

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

Full Idea

How will you wager if a coin is spun on 'Either God is or he is not'? ...If you win you win everything, if you lose you lose nothing.

Gist of Idea

If you win the wager on God's existence you win everything, if you lose you lose nothing

Source

Blaise Pascal (Pensées [1662], 418 (233))

Book Reference

Pascal,Blaise: 'Pensées', ed/tr. Krailsheimer,A.J. [Penguin 1966], p.150


A Reaction

'Sooner safe than sorry' is a principle best used with caution. Do you really 'lose nothing' by believing a falsehood for the whole of your life? What God would reward belief on such a principles as this?