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To believe or not believe...or not decide : a decision-theoretic model of agnosticism
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Pingle, Mark and Melkonyan, Tigran A. (2012) To believe or not believe...or not decide : a decision-theoretic model of agnosticism. Rationality and Society, Volume 24 (Number 4). pp. 408-441. doi:10.1177/1043463112453555 ISSN 1043-4631.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1043463112453555
Abstract
Using decision theory, we construct a stylized theory of agnosticism, defined as choosing not to choose a religion. The theory indicates agnosticism can be supported as a rational choice if (a) adopting agnosticism provides in-life benefits relative to perceived religions, (b) the perceived payoff for agnosticism after death is not too much less than for any perceived religion, (c) no religion has a high perceived likelihood of truth, (d) the probability of death is neither too high nor too low, or (e) it is less costly to switch from agnosticism to a given religion than from one religion to another. Switching costs make the relative attractiveness of agnosticism dependent upon the perceived likelihood of receiving an informative signal about the truth of any perceived religion. Ironically, the lack of information that makes religious choice uncertain and difficult may contribute to decisiveness.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
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Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion | ||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Behavioural Science Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Belief and doubt, Agnostics | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Rationality and Society | ||||
Publisher: | Sage Publications Ltd. | ||||
ISSN: | 1043-4631 | ||||
Official Date: | November 2012 | ||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | Volume 24 | ||||
Number: | Number 4 | ||||
Number of Pages: | 34 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 408-441 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1177/1043463112453555 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
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