Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a miracle according to Hume?
What is a miracle according to Hume?
- A reinforcement of the law of nature
- A violation of the law of nature (correct)
- A natural phenomenon
- A myth
Why does Hume doubt testimony of a miracle?
Why does Hume doubt testimony of a miracle?
- Because of his limited understanding of miracles
- Because people usually lie
- Because humans are naturally skeptical
- Because it is a rare occurrence (correct)
What is the main reason for Hume's argument from evidence and probability?
What is the main reason for Hume's argument from evidence and probability?
- The evidence we have for the miracle must be weighed against the evidence for the law of nature (correct)
- Miracle stories tend to come from ignorant and barbarous nations
- Miracles are a natural part of life
- Humans have a tendency to believe wonderous things without justification
What is the condition for accepting a miracle according to Hume?
What is the condition for accepting a miracle according to Hume?
What is the main conclusion of Hume's argument?
What is the main conclusion of Hume's argument?
What does Hume weigh when deciding whether to believe a miracle?
What does Hume weigh when deciding whether to believe a miracle?
What does Hume consider when evaluating testimony of a miracle?
What does Hume consider when evaluating testimony of a miracle?
What is the implication of Hume's argument on the concept of miracles?
What is the implication of Hume's argument on the concept of miracles?
What is the central idea of realism in the context of miracles?
What is the central idea of realism in the context of miracles?
What is the main difference between realist and anti-realist views of miracles?
What is the main difference between realist and anti-realist views of miracles?
What is the primary critique of realist miracles according to Hume?
What is the primary critique of realist miracles according to Hume?
What is the significance of the three types of miracles identified by Aquinas?
What is the significance of the three types of miracles identified by Aquinas?
What is the key characteristic of anti-realist views of miracles?
What is the key characteristic of anti-realist views of miracles?
What is the main difference between Aquinas' and Hume's understanding of miracles?
What is the main difference between Aquinas' and Hume's understanding of miracles?
What is the primary goal of anti-realist views of miracles?
What is the primary goal of anti-realist views of miracles?
What is the basis of Hume's empiricist philosophy?
What is the basis of Hume's empiricist philosophy?
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Study Notes
Realist vs Anti-Realist Understanding of Miracles
- Realism: regards miracles as objective (mind-independent) events caused by God
- Anti-Realism: views miracles as subjective (mind-dependent) events within our minds
- Anti-Realism does not deny or affirm the reality of miracles, but rather questions our ability to understand them
Aquinas' Realist Understanding of Miracles
- Identified three types of miracles:
- Events that nature cannot do (e.g., creating something out of nothing)
- Events that nature can do, but not in the same way or order (e.g., resurrection of Christ)
- Events that nature can do, but God breaks the principles of nature (e.g., instant cure of a disease)
Hume's Realist Understanding and Rejection of Miracles
- Hume agrees with the realist understanding of miracles, but argues we are never justified in believing they happen
- As an empiricist, Hume believes our beliefs should be based on evidence and experience
- Miracles are "a violation of the law of nature"
- Reasons to doubt testimony of a miracle:
- Miracles are rare, so belief in one is likely mistaken
- Miracle stories often come from ignorant and barbarous nations
- Humans have a tendency to believe wonderous things without justification
Hume's Argument from Evidence and Probability
- Our evidence for a law of nature outweighs the evidence for a miracle
- We should proportion our beliefs to the evidence
- The evidence for a miracle (testimony) must be weighed against the evidence for the law of nature (scientific experiments)
- It's difficult for the evidence of testimony to outweigh the evidence for a law of nature
- Hume concludes that no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle unless its falsehood would be more miraculous than the fact it tries to establish
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