On Pascal's Wager, or Why All Bets are Off
Article first published online: 7 JAN 2003
DOI: 10.1111/1467-9213.00164
The Editors of the Philosophical Quarterly, 2000
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How to Cite
Carter, A. (2000), On Pascal's Wager, or Why All Bets are Off. The Philosophical Quarterly, 50: 22–27. doi: 10.1111/1467-9213.00164
Publication History
- Issue published online: 7 JAN 2003
- Article first published online: 7 JAN 2003
- Abstract
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Pascal's wager seems to demonstrate that it is rational to believe in God and to act accordingly. I argue, however, that Pascal's wager appears to establish that it is rational to believe exclusively in p, while also apparently establishing that it is rational to hold exclusively a contrary belief. I also argue that the wager seems to establish that it is rational to perform only actions of type F, while also seemingly establishing that it is rational to perform contrary actions as often as possible. Thus Pascal's argument appears to establish far too much. And in apparently establishing too much, it establishes, in effect, nothing at all.

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