Pascal’s and Tabarrok’s Wagers

Lars Peter Østerdal

doi:10.1007/s11238-004-3670-x

Pascal’s and Tabarrok’s Wagers

Lars Peter Østerdal

University of Copenhagen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

In a recent paper A. Tabarrok [Believe in Pascal’s Wager? Have I Got a Deal for You!, Theory and Decision 48, 123--128, 2000] argued that a believer who accepts Pascal’s Wager should in addition accept payment of any given fee in return for a given increase in the probability of reaching God. However the conclusion is obtained from manipulations of infinities which are not valid in an expected utility model. In this note, an alternative model is formulated in which Tabarrok’s conclusion can be obtained.

Original language	English
Journal	Theory and Decision
Volume	57
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	1-4
ISSN	0040-5833
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11238-004-3670-x
Publication status	Published - 2004
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Pascal’s Wager
Tabarrok’s Wager

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Cite this

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title = "Pascal{\textquoteright}s and Tabarrok{\textquoteright}s Wagers",

abstract = "In a recent paper A. Tabarrok [Believe in Pascal{\textquoteright}s Wager? Have I Got a Deal for You!, Theory and Decision 48, 123--128, 2000] argued that a believer who accepts Pascal{\textquoteright}s Wager should in addition accept payment of any given fee in return for a given increase in the probability of reaching God. However the conclusion is obtained from manipulations of infinities which are not valid in an expected utility model. In this note, an alternative model is formulated in which Tabarrok{\textquoteright}s conclusion can be obtained.",

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AB - In a recent paper A. Tabarrok [Believe in Pascal’s Wager? Have I Got a Deal for You!, Theory and Decision 48, 123--128, 2000] argued that a believer who accepts Pascal’s Wager should in addition accept payment of any given fee in return for a given increase in the probability of reaching God. However the conclusion is obtained from manipulations of infinities which are not valid in an expected utility model. In this note, an alternative model is formulated in which Tabarrok’s conclusion can be obtained.

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KW - Tabarrok’s Wager

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