LIBERTATEA PERSONALĂ ȘI ARGUMENTELE PRUDENŢIALE SAU PRAGMATICE
Keywords:
argument, faith, freedom, prudence, GodAbstract
Personal Freedom and Prudential or Pragmatic Arguments
The study introduces a category of arguments about God’s existence and the belief in Him which is different from the ontological, cosmological and teleological arguments. Called prudential or pragmatic arguments, they may provide powerful reasons for personal faith and freedom. The most wellknown pragmatic arguments were developed by Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) and William James (1842-1910). The arguments developed by Blaise Pascal and William James are prudential or pragmatic because they seek to make a rational decision (primarily praxis, prudence) about the existence or non-existence of God. When they are internalized and believed, they lead to personal freedom (of conscience).
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