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− | < | + | <font size=5px>''Welcome to the '''explain [[xkcd]]''' wiki!''</font><br> |
− | We | + | We have an explanation for all [[:Category:All comics|'''{{#expr:{{PAGESINCAT:All comics|R}}-1}}''' xkcd comics]], |
− | + | <!-- Note: the -1 in the calculation above is to discount "comic" 404, | |
− | ( | + | which is not really a comic, even though we've categorised it so. --> |
+ | and only {{PAGESINCAT:Incomplete explanations|R}} | ||
+ | ({{#expr: {{PAGESINCAT:Incomplete explanations|R}} / {{LATESTCOMIC}} * 100 round 0}}%) [[:Category:Incomplete explanations|are incomplete]]. Help us finish them! | ||
</center> | </center> | ||
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== Latest comic == | == Latest comic == | ||
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<div style="border:1px solid grey; background:#eee; padding:1em;"> | <div style="border:1px solid grey; background:#eee; padding:1em;"> | ||
− | <span style="float:right;">[[{{LATESTCOMIC}}|'''Go to this comic''']]</span> | + | <span style="float:right;">[[{{LATESTCOMIC}}|'''Go to this comic explanation''']]</span> |
<br clear="right"> | <br clear="right"> | ||
− | {{:{{LATESTCOMIC}}}} | + | {{:{{LATESTCOMIC}}}}</div> |
− | + | ||
− | {{ | + | <small>''Is this out of date? {{Purge|Clicking here will fix that}}.''</small> |
− | }}</ | ||
== New here? == | == New here? == | ||
− | + | <div style="float:right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em">{{Special:ContributionScores/10/7/nosort,notools}}<div style="font-size:0.85em; width:25em; font-style:italic">[[Special:ContributionScores|Lots of people]] contribute to make this wiki a success. Many of the recent contributors, listed above, have [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Special%3AContributions&contribs=newbie just joined]. You can do it too! Create your account [[Special:UserLogin/signup|here]].</div></div> | |
− | + | You can read a brief introduction about this wiki at [[explain xkcd]]. Feel free to [[Special:UserLogin/signup|sign up for an account]] and contribute to the wiki! We need explanations for [[:Category:Incomplete explanations|comics]], [[:Category:Characters|characters]], [[:Category:Comics by topic|themes]] and [[:Category:Meta|everything in between]]. If it is referenced in an [[xkcd]] web comic, it should be here. | |
− | * | + | * If you're new to wiki editing, see the [[explain xkcd:Editor FAQ]] for a specific guidance to this Wiki and the more general help on [[mw:Help:Editing pages|how to edit wiki pages]]. There's also a handy {{w|Help:Cheatsheet|wikicode cheatsheet}}. |
− | * [[List of all comics]] | + | * Discussion about the wiki itself happens at the [[explain xkcd:Community portal|Community portal]]. |
+ | |||
+ | * You can browse the comics from [[List of all comics]] or by navigating the category tree at [[:Category:Comics]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * There are incomplete explanations listed [[:Category:Incomplete explanations|here]]. Feel free to help out by expanding them! | ||
== Rules == | == Rules == | ||
− | |||
− | + | Don't be a jerk! | |
− | + | There are a lot of comics that don't have set-in-stone explanations; feel free to put multiple interpretations in the wiki page for each comic. | |
− | If you | + | If you want to talk about a specific comic, use its discussion page. |
− | + | Please only submit material directly related to (and helping everyone better understand) xkcd... and of course ''only'' submit material that can legally be posted (and freely edited). Off-topic or other inappropriate content is subject to removal or modification at admin discretion, and users who repeatedly post such content will be blocked. | |
− | + | If you need assistance from an [[explain xkcd:Administrators|admin]], post a message to the [[explain xkcd:Community portal/Admin requests|Admin requests]] board. | |
[[Category:Root category]] | [[Category:Root category]] |
Latest revision as of 07:50, 17 April 2024
Welcome to the explain xkcd wiki!
We have an explanation for all 2947 xkcd comics,
and only 15
(1%) are incomplete. Help us finish them!
Latest comic
Explanation
![]() |
This explanation may be incomplete or incorrect: Created by a BOT WHO BELIEVED THE N BOTS ABOVE HIM - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon. |
The comic is structured in a layout that emulates Pascal's triangle. Pascal's triangle is a numerical triangle where the top number is 1 and each value below is the sum of the adjacent number(s) above it. The second row would have two 1s (each the sum of the single 1 above), and the third row would have a 1 (the sum of a single 1 in the second row), a 2 (the sum of both 1s above it), and another 1, and so on. It plays important roles in binomial expansion, probability theory, and other areas of math. While Blaise Pascal did not invent the triangle, it is named after him.
Pascal's Wager is a philosophical argument proposed by Blaise Pascal. Essentially, if the Bible is true, both the rewards for believing in God and the punishment for nonbelief are infinite; if it is not, the cost of belief and benefit for nonbelief are negligible. Therefore, if there is a finite possibility that the Bible is true, however small, one should believe in God.
The comic merges the two — each Cueball is wagering his proof of a god or gods to the Cueballs below him, thereby creating Cueballs that believe in a number of gods equal to the sum of the 2 Cueballs above him. In the second row, the two Cueballs believe in a god, as intended by the original Cueball. However, in the third row, the Cueball in the middle interprets the two proofs offered to him as proving the existence of two gods. Theoretically, this expansion would continue for all integers as the triangle grows, giving rise to a belief in escalating numbers of gods towards the middle bottom of the triangle. This is clearly not the intent of the first Cueball, who simply wagered the proof of his one god, but he has no control over the situation.
It is unclear why the Cueballs behave in this fashion, instead of treating all the proofs as proving the existence of the same god. Perhaps each one rewords their arguments for god(s) sufficiently to make them sound different than other gods. This is not without precedent; for instance, scholars of comparative mythology believe[actual citation needed] that the religion of Proto-Indo-European peoples splintered into many disparate religions of Europe and West Asia.
This comic may be referencing a common counterargument to Pascal's Wager — that it works equally well for any hypothetical god which offers paradise for one action and damnation otherwise. This can even include hypothetical gods with contradictory criteria for entrance into paradise. In this case, the Cueballs apparently chose to believe in n deities to cover their bases.
The title text suggests that everyone should draw a proper Pascal's Triangle, since there is a possibility that God wants you to do so, and if they do then the benefits of pleasing them or the costs of displeasing them could be high, whereas if they have no such desire then there is minimal cost to drawing one anyway. The failing of this logic is that God may have a positive preference for you not to draw a Pascal's Triangle. (Though at least according to the Catholic Church this is unlikely, as Pascal himself is on the way to beatification.)
Pascal's Wager was previously mentioned in the title text of 525.
Transcript
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This transcript is incomplete. Please help editing it! Thanks. |
- [Cueballs, each holding some document, are shown in a triangular arrangement, with arrows pointing from upper to lower Cueballs:]
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15
- C1: Hey, you two below me! Here's a proof that you should believe in my god!
- C2 & C3: I'm convinced! Hey, you two below me! Here's a proof that you should believe in my god!
- C4 & C6: I'm convinced! Hey, you two below me! Here's a proof that you should believe in my god!
- C5: Ok, I believe you both! Hey, you two below me! Here's a proof that you should believe in my two gods!
- C7: I'm convinced! Hey, you two below me! Here's a proof that you should believe in my god!
- C8 & C9: Ok, I believe you both! Hey, you two below me! Here's a proof that you should believe in my three gods!
- C12 & C14: Ok, I believe you both! Hey, you two below me! Here's a proof that you should believe in my four gods!
- C13: Ok, I believe you both! Hey, you two below me! Here's a proof that you should believe in my six gods!
- [Caption below the panel:]
- Pascal's Wager Triangle
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You can read a brief introduction about this wiki at explain xkcd. Feel free to sign up for an account and contribute to the wiki! We need explanations for comics, characters, themes and everything in between. If it is referenced in an xkcd web comic, it should be here.
- If you're new to wiki editing, see the explain xkcd:Editor FAQ for a specific guidance to this Wiki and the more general help on how to edit wiki pages. There's also a handy wikicode cheatsheet.
- Discussion about the wiki itself happens at the Community portal.
- You can browse the comics from List of all comics or by navigating the category tree at Category:Comics.
- There are incomplete explanations listed here. Feel free to help out by expanding them!
Rules
Don't be a jerk!
There are a lot of comics that don't have set-in-stone explanations; feel free to put multiple interpretations in the wiki page for each comic.
If you want to talk about a specific comic, use its discussion page.
Please only submit material directly related to (and helping everyone better understand) xkcd... and of course only submit material that can legally be posted (and freely edited). Off-topic or other inappropriate content is subject to removal or modification at admin discretion, and users who repeatedly post such content will be blocked.
If you need assistance from an admin, post a message to the Admin requests board.