Faith in the supernatural is a desperate wager made by man at the lowest ebb of his fortunes

Faith in the supernatural is a desperate wager made by man at the lowest ebb of his fortunes

George Santayana, a renowned philosopher and essayist, once remarked that "faith in the supernatural is a desperate wager made by man at the lowest ebb of his fortunes." This statement encapsulates the idea that belief in the supernatural often arises out of a sense of desperation or hopelessness, when individuals are faced with insurmountable challenges or uncertainties in their lives.

Santayana's perspective on faith in the supernatural can be understood within the broader context of his philosophical views on religion and human nature. As a naturalist philosopher, Santayana was skeptical of religious beliefs and the existence of supernatural forces. He believed that human beings have a tendency to seek solace in the supernatural when they are confronted with adversity or existential questions that cannot be easily answered through reason or empirical evidence.