Journal article
How to Save Pascal (and Ourselves) From the Mugger
Dialogue - Canadian Philosophical Association, Vol.64(2), pp.359-375
08/2025
DOI: 10.1017/S0012217323000392
Abstract
In this article, we re-examine Pascal's Mugging, and argue that it is a deeper problem than the St. Petersburg paradox. We offer a way out that is consistent with classical decision theory. Specifically, we propose a "many muggers" response analogous to the "many gods" objection to Pascal's Wager. When a very tiny probability of a great reward becomes a salient outcome of a choice, such as in the offer of the mugger, it can be discounted on the condition that there are many other symmetric, non-salient rewards that one may receive if one chooses otherwise.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- How to Save Pascal (and Ourselves) From the Mugger
- Creators
- Avram Hiller - Portland State UniversityAli Hasan - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Dialogue - Canadian Philosophical Association, Vol.64(2), pp.359-375
- DOI
- 10.1017/S0012217323000392
- ISSN
- 0012-2173
- eISSN
- 1759-0949
- Publisher
- Cambridge Univ Press
- Number of pages
- 17
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 11/28/2023
- Date published
- 08/2025
- Academic Unit
- Philosophy
- Record Identifier
- 9984536730702771
Metrics
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