The Probablilty of God's Existence
Blaise Pascal
1623 - 1662
Blaise Pascal was a very influential French mathematician and philosopher who contributed too many areas of mathematics. He laid the foundations for the theory of probability. He apply the theory of probability to the question, "Does God exist?" Here is the context of his theory.
God either exists or does not exist, and we must of necessity lay odds for His existence or against Him existing.
If I wager for His existence and He does not exist, there is no loss.
If I wager for His existence and He exists, there is infinite gain.
If I wager against His existence and He does not exist, there is neither loss nor gain.
But if I wager against His existence and He exists, there is infinite loss.
Thus (according to Blaise Pascal), there is a single hypothesis (wagering against His existence) where I am exposed to the loss of everything. Wisdom, therefore, instructs me to make the wager (that He exists) which ensures my winning all or, at worst, losing nothing.
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