Very Bad Wizards

Episode 113: Pascal, Probability, and Pitchforks



April 18th, 2017  •  1 hr 18 mins  •  Download (62.8 MB)  •  Link with Timestamp

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David and Tamler break down what may be the best argument that it's rational to believe in God: Pascal's Wager. (No, we're not just trolling our Sam Harris listeners.) Does the expected value of believing in God outweigh the probability that you're wrong? How does belief work--can you just turn it on and off? What if you believe in the wrong God? This leads to a wide-ranging discussion on decision theory, instrumental rationality, artificial intelligence, transformative experiences, and whether David should drop acid. Your brain AND you future self will love this episode!