David Hume on miracles

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 1

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 2

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 3

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 4

5. David Hume on miracles General conclusion to the testimony arguments: Testimony when weighed against our experience loses. Hume on miracles ~ slide 5

6. David Hume on miracles • 3. A final argument: Religious pluralism & truth Hume on miracles ~ slide 6

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 7

8. David Hume on miracles • Critical evaluation of Hume’s arguments • 1. The foundational assumption • 2. Hume’s skepticism about testimony • Persons from “ignorant & barbarous nations” Hume on miracles ~ slide 8

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? Hume on miracles ~ slide 9