Gambling on God [Paperback]

Jeff Jordan (Editor, Contributor), Richard Foley (Contributor), Ian Hacking (Contributor), Edward McClennen (Contributor), Thomas Morris (Contributor), Philip Quinn (Contributor), John Ryan (Contributor), George Schlesinger (Contributor), Roy Sorenson (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0847678342 | ISBN-13: 978-0847678341 | Publication Date: February 2, 2002

Gambling on God brings together a superb collection of new and classic essays that provide the first sustained analysis of Pascal's Wager and the idea of an infinite utility as well as the first in-depth look at moral objections to the Wager.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a well-conceived anthology that vividly brings to life the fertility and interest of the issues revolving around Pascal's celebrated argument. (Rescher, Nicholas )

This is a very interesting and provocative collection of essays on an important line of theistic argument. (Mavrodes, George I. )

Pascal's Wager raises basic questions concerning rationality and prudence, the morality of believing without sufficient evidence, and a variety of issues in decision theory. In this excellent collection of essays many of these basic questions are explored with great clarity and at considerable depth. A fine introduction to the Wager and the essays is provided by Jeff Jordan. This is a remarkably good book. It will serve faculty and students well. (Rowe, William L. )

About the Author

Jeff Jordan is an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Delaware.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (February 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847678342
• ISBN-13: 978-0847678341
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,243,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great treatment of often-dismissed argument, July 26, 2009

By 

N "Beau" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Gambling on God (Paperback)

When reading contemporary works of atheism, the authors always like to include a snippet of derision for Pascal's Wager: an argument for belief in God's existence - not an argument for God's existence (often such a distinction is not made). Even when reading the scholarship of Christian philosophers and theologians, Pascal's Wager still comes under fire for it's gross pragmatism.

In this fine collection of 10 essays, Jeff Jordan has compiled the thoughts of several philosophers on the subject of Pascal's Wager. Some of the ideas present therein: precursors to the wager, the logic of the wager, are pragmatic reasons for belief ever justifiable?, how does evidence mesh with the wager, moral objections and responses to the wager, the many gods objection, finite and infinite decision theory. I found Chapter 3-7, and 10 to be the best. Chapters 8 and 9 get quite technical in terms of logic and probability. McClennen's chapter 9 was the one most hostile to Pascal's enterprise. Not to say that all other essays are overwhelmingly supportive but they do express some support with quid pro quos. Besides Chapters 8 and 9, the rest of the essays are very accessible reading - and relatively light for philosophy.

Strongly recommended to anyone with an interest in apologetics, decision theory, or the philosophy of belief.
As a longtime fan of Pascal, it was nice to see some vindication for his most famous wager.

0 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating book on math and theology, April 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Gambling on God (Paperback)

This book discusses a very intriguing argument that technically and non-technically inclined people will find fascinating. The delicate topic of the existence of God is handled in a way that no one will find offensive.