Pascal’s Wager isn't meant to be a final proof; it’s a for the indifferent. Whether you see it as a brilliant piece of logic or a desperate bit of trickery, it forces a question we often avoid: If the stakes are truly infinite, can you afford not to choose? Pascal's Wager - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Most gamblers care about the probability of winning. Pascal argued that in this specific case, .
Expected Value=(Probability of Existence×∞)−(Probability of Non-existence×Finite Cost)Expected Value equals open paren Probability of Existence cross infinity close paren minus open paren Probability of Non-existence cross Finite Cost close paren
In the world of philosophy, few "moves" are as iconic—or as polarizing—as Pascal’s Wager. Named after the 17th-century polymath Blaise Pascal, this isn't just a theological argument; it’s widely considered the birth of modern .
), the "Expected Value" of believing remains infinite. In the language of math:
If you wager on the "wrong" God (e.g., choosing Christianity when Islam was the "correct" choice), you might still face infinite loss. The wager doesn't tell you which altar to visit, only that you should pick one.