A Fourth Way: Joseph Ratzinger’s veluti si Deus daretur

The rationale behind Joseph Ratzinger’s intriguing proposition to his «non-believing friends» to live as if God exists is here examined. It is argued that his wager makes sense when it is interpreted in the light of his commitment to the transcendent dignity of all humans. His proposition may enable those who cannot have faith (and yet are receptive to it) to live in accordance with their dignity, honestly, and without giving up their critical reason. In fact, Ratzinger wants to restore reason, so that it may be the critical and creative (moral) reason that once again seeks the truth.