Indiana Jones & Pascal's Wager: Crash Course Philosophy #15

Summary

This Crash Course Philosophy episode delves into pragmatism and its application to belief in God through Pascal's Wager. It explores the idea that belief can be practical, even without certainty, and challenges traditional views on faith. The video contrasts pragmatic belief with Kierkegaard's fideism, which embraces the irrationality of faith, and uses the example of Indiana Jones to illustrate the concept. It concludes by questioning the risks of faith without evidence and the implications for religious beliefs.

Takeaways

• 📚 Pragmatism is a philosophical approach that values practicality over the search for absolute truth, suggesting that beliefs are useful if they improve one's life, regardless of their factual accuracy.
• 🌱 The concept of 'useful fictions' is introduced as a pragmatic belief that people adopt to make life easier, such as believing spinach makes you strong even if it's not scientifically proven.
• 🏁 Pragmatism as a movement is relatively new in philosophy, with notable American figures like William James and the character Indiana Jones being associated with it, though indirectly.
• 🎰 Pascal's Wager is presented as a pragmatic argument for the belief in God's existence, positing that the potential infinite reward of believing in God outweighs the risks of not believing, even if the belief is based on self-interest.
• 🤔 The script challenges the idea of Pascal's Wager by suggesting that living a life of faith might come with its own costs, such as missing out on certain life experiences or freedoms.
• 🧐 Pascal's view on belief is that it can be cultivated through practice, suggesting that even if one starts with self-interest, it can evolve into genuine conviction over time.
• 🎬 The script uses the character Indiana Jones as an example of pragmatic belief, where he performs actions required by faith without necessarily believing in the outcome.
• 🤷‍♂️ The critique of Pascal's Wager includes the argument that forcing belief can lead to unhappiness and is not the pragmatic approach a true pragmatist would take.
• 🦄 Fideism, as introduced by Kierkegaard, is the belief that faith alone is the source of religious belief, and that reason and evidence can detract from the wonder and mystery of faith.
• 🌌 Kierkegaard's 'leap of faith' is likened to taking a step into the unknown, trusting that faith will provide support, much like Indiana Jones' leap across a chasm in 'The Last Crusade'.
• 🚫 The script concludes with a cautionary note about the risks of faith-based beliefs, suggesting that without evidence and reason, all beliefs become philosophically equal and potentially dangerous.

Q & A

What is a 'useful fiction' as described in the script?

A 'useful fiction' refers to a belief or idea that people choose to accept not because it is necessarily true, but because it makes life more manageable or convenient.

What is the core principle of pragmatism in philosophy?

The core principle of pragmatism is that the practicality of a belief in one's life is more important than whether the belief is objectively true.

Who are some of the well-known American pragmatists mentioned in the script?

The script mentions William James and, in a more metaphorical sense, the character Indiana Jones as examples of American pragmatists.

What is Pascal's Wager and what does it argue?

Pascal's Wager is a philosophical argument that suggests it is more practical to believe in God's existence because the potential payoff (eternal happiness) outweighs the potential loss (no loss if God does not exist).

What are the possible outcomes of believing or not believing in God according to Pascal's Wager?

According to Pascal's Wager, if you believe in God and He exists, you receive infinite reward (heaven); if you believe and He doesn't exist, there's little to no loss; if you don't believe and He doesn't exist, there's no gain; but if you don't believe and He does exist, you face infinite punishment (hell).

What criticism does the script present against Pascal's Wager?

The script suggests that Pascal's Wager might be flawed because it could be argued that living a life in service of a non-existent deity could actually cost you in terms of missed opportunities and personal freedom.

How does the script relate the concept of pragmatism to the character Indiana Jones?

The script uses Indiana Jones as an example of a pragmatic character who, despite being agnostic, performs actions that align with religious belief, suggesting that such behavior could eventually lead to genuine belief.

What is the philosophical position of fideism as presented in the script?

Fideism, as presented in the script, is the belief that religious faith must come from faith alone, independent of reason or evidence, and that embracing the irrationality of faith is what makes religion meaningful.

What is Kierkegaard's 'leap of faith' and how does it relate to religious belief?

Kierkegaard's 'leap of faith' is the idea that belief in God is entirely irrational and cannot be achieved through reason alone. It requires an individual to take a leap into faith without evidence, hoping that their belief is caught by divine truth.

What is the 'China teapot' analogy presented by Bertrand Russell, and what does it illustrate?

The 'China teapot' analogy by Bertrand Russell is a hypothetical scenario where people believe in the existence of a teapot orbiting the sun simply because it cannot be disproven. It illustrates the potential absurdity of believing in something without evidence, similar to the risks of faith-based beliefs without justification.

How does the script suggest that faith alone can be problematic in religious beliefs?

The script suggests that relying solely on faith can be problematic because it levels the playing field for all beliefs, making it impossible to justify or criticize any belief as wrong or dangerous, since faith itself cannot be justified.