Indiana Jones & Pascal's Wager: Crash Course Philosophy #15
CrashCourse・10 minutes read
Believing in things that make life easier, regardless of their truth, is the essence of pragmatism illustrated by examples like Pascal's Wager. While Pascal argues that faith in God is a smart bet for the rewards it offers, Kierkegaard's fideism emphasizes belief based solely on faith, urging a surrender of reason for truth.
Insights
- Pascal's Wager suggests that believing in God is a rational choice due to the potential benefits of heaven outweighing the risks of hell, even if the belief is driven by self-interest.
- Kierkegaard's fideism promotes belief in God based solely on faith, emphasizing the irrationality and mystery of religious belief, akin to taking a leap of faith like Indiana Jones in The Last Crusade.
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Recent questions
What is pragmatism?
A: Pragmatism is a belief in things that make life easier, regardless of their truth. It involves practicality over theoretical considerations, like eating spinach for muscle growth.
Who are notable pragmatists?
A: William James and Blaise Pascal are notable pragmatists. Pascal applied pragmatism to the belief in God through Pascal's Wager, emphasizing practical benefits over theoretical truths.
What is Pascal's Wager?
A: Pascal's Wager argues that believing in God is a smart bet, as the potential rewards of heaven outweigh the risks of hell. It suggests that even self-interested belief in God can have benefits like a sense of order and meaning.
How does Kierkegaard's fideism differ from pragmatism?
A: Kierkegaard's fideism advocates for belief in God solely based on faith, emphasizing the irrationality and mystery of religious belief. It goes beyond pragmatism by highlighting the importance of faith over practical benefits.
What is the danger of relying solely on faith in existentialism?
A: Relying solely on faith in existentialism can lead to potentially dangerous or unjustified beliefs. While faith is important, it is crucial to balance it with reason to avoid falling into extreme or harmful ideologies.
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Summary
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Belief, Pragmatism, and Faith in God
- Pragmatism is about believing in things that make life easier, regardless of their truth, with examples like eating spinach for muscle growth.
- William James and Blaise Pascal are notable pragmatists, with Pascal applying pragmatism to the belief in God through Pascal's Wager.
- Pascal's Wager argues that believing in God is the smart bet, as the potential rewards of heaven outweigh the risks of hell.
- Pascal believed that even if belief in God is self-interested, the benefits of belief, like a sense of order and meaning, make it worthwhile.
- Pascal suggested that one can brainwash themselves into true belief by practicing religious rituals and surrounding oneself with believers.
- Soren Kierkegaard's fideism goes further, advocating for belief in God solely based on faith, emphasizing the irrationality and mystery of religious belief.
- Kierkegaard's leap to faith is likened to Indiana Jones taking a leap of faith in The Last Crusade, emphasizing the need to surrender reason for truth.
- Pragmatism and fideism offer solutions to the question of God's existence, but relying solely on faith can lead to potentially dangerous or unjustified beliefs.
- The episode concludes by introducing existentialism and highlighting the diverse interpretations within the movement, setting the stage for future discussions.
