Publication

2018-11-29 - Cambridge University Press

Language

English

Word Count

86,500 words, Guess

Page Count

346 pages

Physical Format

Paperback

Identifiers

  • ISBN-101316632652
  • ISBN-139781316632659
  • Library of Congress Control Number2018026134
  • OCLC Control Number1035283553
  • Better World Books9781316632659
and 1 more

Classifications

  • LCCBT50.P38 2018
  • LCCBT50 .P38 2018

Description

In his famous Wager, Blaise Pascal (1623-62) offers the reader an argument that it is rational to strive to believe in God. Philosophical debates about this classic argument have continued until our own times. This volume provides a comprehensive examination of Pascal's Wager, including its theological framework, its place in the history of philosophy, and its importance to contemporary decision theory. The volume starts with a valuable primer on infinity and decision theory for students and non-specialists. A sequence of chapters then examines topics including the Wager's underlying theology, its influence on later philosophical figures, and contemporary analyses of the Wager including Alan Hajek's challenge to its validity, the many gods objection, and the ethics of belief. The final five chapters explore various ways in which the Wager has inspired contemporary decision theory, including questions related to infinite utility, imprecise probabilities, and infinitesimals.

Subjects

Other Editions

  • Pascal's WagerPaperbackCambridge University Press2018-11-29

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