POG FINAL WEEK 12-15 TEST QUIZ WITH
COMPLETE ANSWERS [ GRADED A+]
What problem is Pascal addressing in 'The Wager'? - ✔✔Whether belief in God
can be rational when God's existence cannot be proven.
What assumption does Pascal make about evidence for God? - ✔✔Reason
cannot prove either that God exists or that God does not exist.
Why does Pascal think we cannot avoid choosing whether to believe? -
✔✔Because how we live already commits us to belief or disbelief.
What is Pascal's central argument called? - ✔✔The Wager.
How does Pascal frame belief in God? - ✔✔As a rational bet under uncertainty.
©morren 2025/2026. Year published 2026.
,What is the payoff if you believe in God and God exists? - ✔✔Infinite gain
(salvation).
What is the loss if you believe in God and God does not exist? - ✔✔A finite loss.
Why does Pascal think belief is rational? - ✔✔Because it has infinite expected
value.
What kind of rationality does Pascal appeal to? - ✔✔Prudential (practical)
rationality, not evidential rationality.
Does Pascal claim belief proves God exists? - ✔✔No, he claims belief is the
rational choice.
If an exam question mentions 'bet,' 'wager,' or 'infinite payoff,' who is it? -
✔✔Blaise Pascal.
©morren 2025/2026. Year published 2026.
, What is Blackburn's main goal in critiquing Pascal? - ✔✔To show that Pascal's
Wager fails to justify belief in God.
What is the 'many-gods objection'? - ✔✔Pascal assumes only one God, but
many religions exist.
Why does religious pluralism undermine Pascal's Wager? - ✔✔Wagering on the
wrong God could lead to punishment rather than reward.
What psychological objection does Blackburn raise? - ✔✔You cannot sincerely
choose belief just for reward.
What moral objection does Blackburn raise against Pascal? - ✔✔A good God
would not reward self-interested or fear-based belief.
©morren 2025/2026. Year published 2026.
COMPLETE ANSWERS [ GRADED A+]
What problem is Pascal addressing in 'The Wager'? - ✔✔Whether belief in God
can be rational when God's existence cannot be proven.
What assumption does Pascal make about evidence for God? - ✔✔Reason
cannot prove either that God exists or that God does not exist.
Why does Pascal think we cannot avoid choosing whether to believe? -
✔✔Because how we live already commits us to belief or disbelief.
What is Pascal's central argument called? - ✔✔The Wager.
How does Pascal frame belief in God? - ✔✔As a rational bet under uncertainty.
©morren 2025/2026. Year published 2026.
,What is the payoff if you believe in God and God exists? - ✔✔Infinite gain
(salvation).
What is the loss if you believe in God and God does not exist? - ✔✔A finite loss.
Why does Pascal think belief is rational? - ✔✔Because it has infinite expected
value.
What kind of rationality does Pascal appeal to? - ✔✔Prudential (practical)
rationality, not evidential rationality.
Does Pascal claim belief proves God exists? - ✔✔No, he claims belief is the
rational choice.
If an exam question mentions 'bet,' 'wager,' or 'infinite payoff,' who is it? -
✔✔Blaise Pascal.
©morren 2025/2026. Year published 2026.
, What is Blackburn's main goal in critiquing Pascal? - ✔✔To show that Pascal's
Wager fails to justify belief in God.
What is the 'many-gods objection'? - ✔✔Pascal assumes only one God, but
many religions exist.
Why does religious pluralism undermine Pascal's Wager? - ✔✔Wagering on the
wrong God could lead to punishment rather than reward.
What psychological objection does Blackburn raise? - ✔✔You cannot sincerely
choose belief just for reward.
What moral objection does Blackburn raise against Pascal? - ✔✔A good God
would not reward self-interested or fear-based belief.
©morren 2025/2026. Year published 2026.
