Blaise Pascal

An Example of Voluntarism: Can we choose to believe?

A. God’s existence is not rationally knowable –

B. The Wager – either God does or doesn’t exist

1. Two States:

a. God exists

b. God does not exist

2. Two Acts:

a. We believe that God exists

b. We don’t believe that God exists

3. Four Results:

a. God exists and we believe – salvation

b. God exits and we don’t believe – damnation

c. God doesn’t exist and we believe – moral life (no salvation)

d. God doesn’t exist and we don’t believe – immoral life (no salvation)

C. Habituating Ourselves to Belief

1. Control the passions

2. Follow the example of those who do believe

3. By acting as if you believe, you will eventually believe