Pascal's Wager Triangle Quiz and Practice Problems

According to Pascal, what sort of argument does he offer for belief in God?

What is the 'many gods' objection to Pascal’s wager?

What is one way that Pascal could respond to the 'many gods' objection to his argument?

True or false: Pascal maintains that if you wager for God and lose, you will be no worse off than if you had wagered against God.

Why does Pascal insist that 'you must bet' either on the existence of God or the non-existence of God?

What is one way that Pascal could respond to the 'many gods' objection to his argument?

According to James, it is rational to believe a proposition in the absence of evidence when the option is forced, live, and momentous. What do these conditions mean?

Why does Pascal insist that 'you must bet' either on the existence of God or the non-existence of God?

Clifford contrasts two shipowners. The first shipowner is blameworthy because his action kills many people. Why is the second blameworthy according to Clifford?

What is Clifford’s fundamental principle governing rational belief?

Pascal's Wager

Pascal offers a prudential argument for belief in God, where he weighs the potential benefits and risks of believing in God.
The 'many gods' objection to Pascal's wager argues that there are many possible gods, and it is not clear which one to believe in.

Responding to the 'Many Gods' Objection

One way Pascal could respond to the objection is to argue that the probability of one god existing is higher than the probability of multiple gods existing.
Alternatively, Pascal could argue that the benefits of believing in one god outweigh the benefits of believing in multiple gods.

Pascal's Wager Conditions

True: Pascal maintains that if you wager for God and lose, you will be no worse off than if you had wagered against God.
Pascal insists that 'you must bet' either on the existence of God or the non-existence of God because the option is forced, live, and momentous.

William James' Conditions

According to James, it is rational to believe a proposition in the absence of evidence when the option is:
- Forced: The decision cannot be avoided.
- Live: The decision has a significant impact on the believer's life.
- Momentous: The decision has significant consequences.

Clifford's Principle

Clifford contrasts two shipowners, where the first shipowner is blameworthy because his action kills many people.
The second shipowner is blameworthy because he neglects to inspect his ship, despite having the opportunity to do so, and his action also kills many people.
Clifford's fundamental principle governing rational belief is that it is wrong to believe anything without sufficient evidence.

Test your knowledge of Pascal's argument for belief in God with this study guide. Answer questions about the pragmatic and epistemic aspects of Pascal's wager, the 'many gods' objection, and Pascal's potential responses. See if you can determine whether statements about the consequences of wagering for or against God are true or false.