Pascals Wager: a reason to desire good health

Pascal’s Wager is a paradox about God. In the paradox, Blaise Pascal, the French philosopher and mathematician after whom the computer language Pascal is named, postulated that it is better to believe in God.

His view was simple. He argued that if you believed in God and it turned out that God existed and you could be rewarded with heaven. If God did not exist, you would have lived a good life anyway.

It was on the whole better than not having believed and found it to be true.

So what does this have to do with health?

Many people, even today, argue about the virtue of a healthy life. Remember, a healthy life is often associated with sacrifice, giving up things, not indulging in things or the horror of having to lift heavy objects in a gym.

So, make merry and enjoy life, because who knows?

To such people, we could present Pascal’s Wager. If you live a healthy life and it turns out it really matters then, well done.

If you did not live a healthy life and it turns out that it really matters, then the outcome will not be good.

I know you will always find exceptions. People who eat burgers and drink cola everyday and live to be healthy till they are in their eighties.

It is human nature to see evidence that confirms their bias and ignore everything else. It is for that reason that Pascal had to create a paradox.

In the case of health, unlike with God, the evidence can be made available in a few months.

More energy, better sleep, improved mood, better digestion. Who knows, better health may even make you more likely to believe in God.

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