What is the philosophical impact of Pascal's wager?

Pascal's wager is a foundational philosophical argument advanced by Blaise Pascal that frames belief in God as a rational gamble with infinite potential gains or losses. The argument has had a profound impact by representing the earliest formal application of decision theory, existentialism, pragmatism, and voluntarism. However, it has also sparked extensive counter-arguments and critiques, including concerns about inauthentic belief and the problem of inconsistent revelations from competing belief systems.

What we know

• Pascal's wager is a philosophical argument advanced by mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal positing that individuals engage in a life-defining gamble regarding God's existence. [1, 2]
• The wager is recognized as the first formal application of decision theory, existentialism, pragmatism, and voluntarism. [2]
• Critics challenge the wager through the argument from inconsistent revelations and the problem of inauthentic belief resulting from motivation solely by potential benefits and losses. [2]

Still open

• There are ongoing critical debates regarding whether a belief adopted solely for pragmatic benefits can be considered genuine faith.

Where to go next

• whoWho was Blaise Pascal?
• the bigger pictureWhat is decision theory?
• compared withWhat is the Atheist's wager?
• how we knowWhat are the Pensées?
• an unexpected connectionWhat is Pascal's mugging?

Sources

• [1]Pascal's Wager (Wikidata Q830200) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Pascal's wager · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Pascal's mugging · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Atheist's wager · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Blaise Pascal · CC BY-SA 4.0