Hume on miracles ~ slide 1

David Hume on miracles

The modern background: David Hume (Scottish, 1711-1776) on miracles (An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding, 1748) Biographical notes

Hume on miracles ~ slide 2

David Hume on miracles

Hume’s famous df.: a miracle is a violation of the laws of nature brought about by the volition of a Deity.

Hume’s three arguments against the existence of miracles

Hume on miracles ~ slide 3

David Hume on miracles

1. The nature of nature -- the uniformity of nature

2. Problems with testimony•Sufficient number of persons•The lack of “good sense, education,

and learning” of those testifying to miracles

Hume on miracles ~ slide 4

David Hume on miracles

•Testimony is from those living in “ignorant and barbarous nations,” and not from those living in a “celebrated part of the world” (a consider-the-source type argument)

•There is a propensity in humankind toward stories about the marvelous, unusual & strange

•Are many instances of forged miracles

Hume on miracles ~ slide 5

David Hume on miracles

General conclusion to the testimony arguments: Testimony when weighed against our experience loses.

Hume on miracles ~ slide 6

David Hume on miracles

3. A final argument: Religious pluralism & truth

Hume on miracles ~ slide 7

David Hume on miracles

Note Hume’s assumption about the foundational role of miracles. “We may establish it as a maxim that no human testimony can have such force as to prove a miracle, and make it a just foundation for any such system of religion.”

Hume on miracles ~ slide 8

David Hume on miracles

Critical evaluation of Hume’s arguments1. The foundational assumption2. Hume’s skepticism about testimony

Persons from “ignorant & barbarous nations”

Hume on miracles ~ slide 9

David Hume on miracles

3. Hume’s dilemma: testimony or nature . . . a false dilemma?

4. Does his definition of miracles have anything to do with the biblical notion of miracles?