MIRACLES: Hume On Miracles

Question 1

Who was Hume?

Answer 1

Philosopher and historian

Empiricist

Question 2

Quote from Hume about evidence

Answer 2

‘A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence’

Question 3

What is Humes approach to miracles?

Answer 3

‘A miracle is a violation of the laws of nature’

Thus the testimony would have to be very convincing; the more evidence we have for any event, the higher its probability

Question 4

Quote from Hume on miracles as uncommon

Answer 4

‘Nothing is esteemed a miracle, if it ever happen in the common course of nature’

Question 5

Humes definition of a miracle

Answer 5

A transgression of a law of nature by a particular volition of the deity, or by the interposition of some invisible agent

Question 6

Humes main inductive argument against miracles: witness testimony

Answer 6

Witness testimony has to become more reliable in direct proportion to the improbability of what the witness claims to have observed

Question 7

Humes main inductive argument against miracles: improbable events

Answer 7

The most improbable event would be a violation of the laws of nature
Because by definition the evidence must contradict the claim of a miracle having happened

Question 8

Humes main inductive argument against miracles: conclusion

Answer 8

By definition the reported event is maximally improbable
The probability the witnesses are lying/wrong is greater than the probability a miracle has occurred
‘No human testimony can have such force as to prove a miracle’