Pascal argues that it is rational to wager that God exists because we have everything to gain and nothing to lose. He presents a thought experiment where we are faced with an infinite distance separating us from the truth, and must place a bet on whether God exists or not without being able to know for certain. If we bet that God exists and we are wrong, we lose nothing, but if we are right, we gain eternal life. Therefore, the rational choice is to wager that God exists through faith and live according to God's commands.

1. CHAPTER 14
“THE WAGER”
BY BLAISE PASCAL
Name : Clarissa Felicia
NIM : 20190700032

2. About The Author
• Early in life Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) pursued interests in physics and
mathematics. His theory of conic sections and probability theory are well
known;his experimental methodology in physics proved influential,
especially his research in hydrostatics.
• As a result of a harrowing accident, Pascal turned his attention to
religion and religion philosophy in the latter part of his life.
• It seems he was driving a four in hand when the two horses leaped over
the parapet of Neuilly bridge. Pascal’s life was saved when the traces
broke and took the accident as a sign to abandon his experimental life
and turn to God.
Ethichs Book, Page 131

3. About The Work
Pascal’s Pensées reveals a skepticism with respect
to natural theology. Pascal pointed out that the most
important things in life cannot be known with
certainty; even so we must make choices.

4. The Reading Selection from
Pensées
• We know that there is an infinite, and are ignorant of
its nature. As we know it to be false that numbers are
finite, it is therefore true that there is an infinity in
number.

5. • But by faith we know His existence; in glory we shall
know His nature.
• Now, I have shown that we might know the existence of
an object, without knowing his nature

6. • They declare, in expounding it to the world, that it is a foolishness;
and then you complain that they do not prove it! If they proved it,
they would not keep their words;
• There is an infinite chaos which separates us. A game is being
played at the extremity of this infinite distance where heads or tails
will turn up. What will you wager?

7. • The meaning of the wager is bettors. People who like to bet.
• Pascal's bet is the idea issued by Blaise Pascal that if God's
existence cannot be trusted, someone must bet that God exists,
because we will not lose anything if we live according to His
commands.
Meaning of The Wager

8. • According reason, you can neither the one thing nor the other;
according reason, you can defend neither of the propositions.
• Do not then reprove for error those who have made a choice; for
you know nothing about it. “No, but I blame them for having made,
not this choice, but a choice; for again both he who chooses
heads and he who chooses tails are equally at fault, they are both
in the wrong. The true course is not to wager at all.”
Example: choose the information system major

9. • You have two things to lose, the true and the good; and two things
to stake, your reason and your will, your knowledge and your
happiness; and has two things to shun, error and misery.
• Let us estimate these two chances. If you gain, you gain all; if you
lose, you lose nothing. Since there is an equal risk of gain and of
loss, if you had only to gain two lives, instead of one, you might
still wager.

10. • For it is no use to say it is uncertain if we will gain, and it is certain that
we risk.
• In truth, there is an infinity between the certainty of gain and the
certainty of loss. But the uncertainty of the gain is pro-portioned to the
certainty of the stake according to the proportion of the chances of gain
and loss.
• Example: Selling a calf that is still in the mother's stomach. Because it
cannot be confirmed, the calf will be born perfect, so if the price is paid,
suddenly the goods are not perfect then the buyer is not satisfied, then
there will be hostility and commotion.

11. • Endeavor then to convince yourself, not by increase of proofs of
God, but by the abatement of your passions.
• Learn of those who have been bound like you, and who now
stake all their possessions.
• Follow the way by which they began; by acting as if they
believe, taking the holy water, having masses said.

12. • Caring for the children if only considering reason is also not enough.
• For example round trip and pick, provided aides, whatever is served, then it
turns out the result is also only a generation of intelligent brains but weak
heart strength.
• Finally the child does not know how to communicate with their parents, and
especially with others. That is a child who is educated only by reason and
does not include his conscience.
m.liputan6.com
EXAMPLE

13. • Acting as a beliver can heal one beliver.
• I say that the heart naturally loves the Universal Being, and also
itself naturally, according as it gives itself to them; and it
hardens itself against one or the other at its will.
• It is the heart which experiences God, and not the reason. This,
then, is faith; God felt by the heart, not by reason.

14. THANK YOU