Hume Miracles Test

Question 1

When was Hume’s work published?

Answer 1

1748

Question 2

Hume’s essay was in two parts- what were they?

Answer 2

1. A general argument about Testimony, Miracles and Natural Law
2. Comments on the quality of the Testimony that is generally available to us

Question 3

What are the four subparts for the first half of the essay?

Answer 3

1. beliefs are based on the evidence produced by experiences of the world
2. Events work according to uniform laws of nature
3. If the testimony comes from a reliable source then you would have a stalemate as the proof of the testimony undermines the proof of the laws of nature. In this case you suspend judgement
4. Critics believe Hume leaves open the theoretical possibility that a person’s testimony could be a proof that a miracle has occurred.

Question 4

What are the four subparts for the second half of the essay?

Answer 4

1. Most testimonies supporting miracles come from people whose minds lack complexity, good sense, education and learning
2. Those sorts of people are prone to the magical in life and do not question the “miraculous” events
3. Miracle stories are common amongst ignorant and barbarous communities
4. The different miracle claims of different religions cancel each other out

Question 5

What are the five criticisms of Hume?

Answer 5

• Unfair Argument
• Science is incompatible with a belief in miracles
• A violation of the laws of nature
• A violation of what we know of natures laws
• Hume’s definition is wrong
• Hume and testimony

Question 6

Explain ‘Unfair Argument’ Criticism

Answer 6

Hume is maintaining a priori that miracles cannot exist because since the laws of nature are by definition regular and constant and a miracle is by definition a transgression of these laws, the very concept of a miracle is incoherent

*** Hume dismisses the possibility of miracles by simply defining them out of existence

Question 7

Explain ‘Science is incompatible with a belief in miracles’ Criticism

Answer 7

Science only accepts as fact those events that can be observed and repeated. Miracles are by nature not regular or repeatable so it is often argued that the scientific mind cannot accept miracles as occurring in the world.

• • Have to give up idea of spontaneous generation of life
• • Can observe similar events taking place in the present
• • If repetition of similar events is key to the understanding of our past then some critics could argue that a belief in a miraculous cause for life is based on repetition of similar events (i.e. formation of amino acids)
• • Therefore, the principle of repeatability used to dismiss miracles can actually support it

Question 8

Explain ‘A violation of the laws of nature’ Criticism

Answer 8

Hume assumes that we have an adequate knowledge of these laws, however the laws of nature can change. Used to be Newtonian now Einstein’s theories are accepted. This proof is clearly weakened if we accept that our understanding of these laws could be completely wrong.

Question 9

Explain ‘A violation of what we know of natures laws’ Criticism

Answer 9

Could be governed by a law of nature we are yet to discover which allows for this event. If not, we would have to revise theories of other laws.

Question 10

Explain ‘Hume’s definition is wrong’ Criticism

Answer 10

Definition is wrong. His key criticisms can be dismissed by simply choosing another definition.

Question 11

Explain ‘Hume and testimony’ Criticism

Answer 11

Hume response to the Apostles testimony to the resurrection of Jesus:

• The miracles in different religions cancel each other out
• Testimony to a miracle can never be a proof because a weaker evidence can never destroy a stronger one
• • Swinburne- do not necessarily cancel each other out as evidence for a miracle in one religion is only evidence against the miracles occurring in others
• • religious pluralism- no need to see miracles as competing claims to be true
• • some believe miracles don’t need proof, only faith.