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    Pascal's God — conceived as absolutely perfect — should b... — Carmelics
    Home/Natural Theology
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    Pascal's God — conceived as absolutely perfect — should be assigned higher probability than conceptions of rival Gods.

    Natural Theology
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    2 reasons against

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    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.In science, when multiple theories fit observed data equally well, we favor the simplest theory.
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    • 2.Simplicity considerations apply analogously to theological hypotheses.
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    • 3.A conception of God as 'absolutely perfect' is the simplest theological conception because it implies all other predicates traditionally ascribed to God.
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    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
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    • 1.Swinburne's own simplicity criterion favors a God of zero specific finite properties, but 'absolute perfection' bundles multiple maximized properties (omniscience, omnipotence, omnibenevolence), each requiring independent justification.
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    • 2.A maximally simple deity — one with a single, undifferentiated attribute — would score higher on Occam's razor than a being requiring the coherent co-instantiation of multiple distinct perfections.
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    • 3.Therefore, the simplicity argument underdetermines Pascal's God specifically and may favor rival minimal-attribute conceptions over the Anselmian maximum.
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    Reason against 2 of 2
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    • 1.Mackie and Sobel demonstrated that 'absolute perfection' is not a coherent single predicate but a placeholder that collapses under the logical incompatibility of its constituent omni-properties (e.g., omniscience vs. libertarian freedom).
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    • 2.A hypothesis riddled with internal incoherence cannot be assigned higher prior probability than coherent rival conceptions, regardless of its apparent simplicity.
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    • 3.Rival Gods defined by fewer, mutually consistent attributes (e.g., Aristotle's Unmoved Mover) therefore carry higher probability by virtue of their coherence, not lower probability by virtue of their specificity.
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    Topics

    Natural Theology

    Related

    A conception of God as 'absolutely perfect' is the simplest theological concepti...A hypothesis riddled with internal incoherence cannot be assigned higher prior p...A maximally simple deity — one with a single, undifferentiated attribute — would...Conceptions of rival Gods leave open various questions about their nature, requi...
    +7 moreShow less
    In science, when multiple theories fit observed data equally well, we favor the ...Lower simplicity entails lower probability.Mackie and Sobel demonstrated that 'absolute perfection' is not a coherent singl...Rival Gods defined by fewer, mutually consistent attributes (e.g., Aristotle's U...Simplicity considerations apply analogously to theological hypotheses.Swinburne's own simplicity criterion favors a God of zero specific finite proper...Therefore, the simplicity argument underdetermines Pascal's God specifically and...

    Similar

    Therefore, Descartes can only legitimately claim 'According to the ide...75%A conception of God as 'absolutely perfect' is the simplest theologica...74%A being with all perfections (God) is really possible73%There exists in reality at least one perfect being.73%

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: pascal-wager
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    In response, some authors argue that in such a competition among various possible deities for one’s belief, some are more probable than others. Although there may be ties among the expected utilities—all infinite—for believing in various ones among them, their respective probabilities can be used as tie-breakers. Schlesinger (1994, 90) offers this principle: “In cases where the mathematical expectations are infinite, the criterion for choosing the outcome to bet on is its probability”. (Note tha
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (1 for, 2 against)
    Edits
    1 edit