“Pascal's Wager” is an argument in apologetic philosophy. It posits that humans all bet with their lives either that God exists or not. Given the possibility that God actually does exist and assuming an infinite gain or loss associated with belief or unbelief in said God (as represented by an eternity in heaven or hell), a rational person should live as though God exists and seek to believe in God. If God does not actually exist, such a person will have only a finite loss (some pleasures, luxury, etc.). Pascal formulated the wager within a Christian framework. The wager was set out in section 233 of Pascal's posthumously published Pensées ("Thoughts").
The wager uses the following logic (excerpts from Pensées, part III, §233):
1. God is, or God is not. Reason cannot decide between the two alternatives.
2. A Game is being played ... where heads or tails will turn up.
3. You must wager (it is not optional).
4. Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is. Let us estimate these 2 chances. If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing.
5. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is. ... There is here an infinity of an infinitely happy life to gain, a chance of gain against a finite number of chances of loss, and what you stake is finite. And so our proposition is of infinite force, when there is the finite to stake in a game where there are equal risks of gain and of loss, and the infinite to gain.
6. But some cannot believe. They should then 'at least learn your inability to believe ...' and 'Endeavour then to convince' themselves.
God exists (G) God does not exist (¬G)
Belief (B) +∞ (infinite gain) −1 (finite loss)
Disbelief (¬B) −∞ (infinite loss) +1 (finite gain)
Also described as … (I was exposed to this in a western civilization literature course in college in 1974. Makes me wonder if it is covered in college today.)
1. If you believe in God and there is a God, then you are +1.
2. If you believe in God but there is no God, then you are 0.
3. If you don’t believe in God and there is no God, then you are 0.
4. If you don’t believe in God but there is a God, then you are -1.
I am fan, and a frequent user of Pascal’s Wager. A great argument indeed. Hated by unbelievers though, because even not choosing is a choice and they often take umbrage under not choosing.
~Theo