Hume and the Problem of Miracles: A SolutionThis book developed from sections of my doctoral dissertation, "The Possibility of Religious Knowledge: Causation, Coherentism and Foundationalism," Brown University, 1982. However, it actually had its beginnings much earlier when, as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, I first read Hume's "Of Miracles" and became interested in it. (Fascinated would be too strong. ) My teacher put the following marginal comment in a paper I wrote about it: "Suppose someone told you that they had been impregnated by an angel whispering into their ear. Wouldn't you think they had gone dotty?" She had spent time in England. I thought about it. I agreed that I would not have believed such testimony, but did not think this had much to do with Hume's argument against belief in miracles. What surprised me even more was the secondary literature. I became convinced that Hume's argument was misunderstood. My main thesis is established in Part I. This explains Hume's argument against justified belief in miracles and shows how it follows from, and is intrinsically connected with, his more general metaphysics. Part II Part I. It should give the reader a more complete understanding builds on of both the structure of Hume's argument and of his crucial and questionable premises. Chapters 5 and 11 are perhaps the most technical in the book, but they are also the least necessary. They can be skipped by the reader who is only interested in Hume on miracles. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
HUMES ACCOUNT OF A POSTERIORI REASONING | 5 |
MIRACLES AND REASONING BASED ON EXPERIENCE | 13 |
THE INDIAN AND THE ICE UNDERSTANDING AND REJECTING HUMES ARGUMENT | 23 |
A BETTER BUT LESS INTERESTING HUMEAN ARGUMENT | 37 |
MIRACLES AND THE LOGICAL ENTAILMENT ANALYSIS OF CAUSATION | 53 |
ARE MIRACLES VIOLATIONS OF LAWS OF NATURE? | 65 |
NOTES TO PART ONE | 75 |
PART II | 87 |
TILLOTSONS ARGUMENT ITS APPLICATION OF JUSTIFIED BELIEF IN MIRACLES | 133 |
101 AHERNS UNSUCCESSFUL CRITIQUE OF TILLOTSON | 137 |
102 THE SIMILARITY OF HUMES ARGUMENT TO TILLOTSONS AND THE FAILURE OF HUMES ARGUMENT | 145 |
CONCLUSION MIRACLES AND CONTEMPORARY EPISTEMOLOGY | 152 |
111 FOUNDATIONALISM AND BELIEF IN MIRACLES | 156 |
112 COHERENCE AND BELIEF IN MIRACLES | 175 |
NOTES TO PART TWO | 189 |
201 | |
CAN ANYONE EVER KNOW THAT A MIRACLE HAS OCCURRED? | 89 |
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN KNOWING THAT A MIRACLE HAS OCCURRED | 93 |
HUMES ACCOUNT OF TILLOTSON AND THE ALLEGED ARGUMENT OF A LIKE NATURE | 103 |
TESTIMONY AND SENSORY EVIDENCE REASONS FOR BELIEF IN MIRACLES? | 123 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accept according actually Ahern alleged analysis appears argue assume basic beliefs basis belief in miracles causal cause circumstances claim coherence concept concerning connection considered contrary correct course criteria determined direct discussion doctrine effect empirical employ entailment epistemic establish event evidence example existence explanation extraordinary fact foundationalism foundationalist given gives grounds happen Hume Hume's argument Humean idea impossible impression inference instances interpretation issue justified belief justified in believing kind knowledge laws of nature least less logically matter means necessarily necessary never normative objects observation occurred one's particular past perhaps person philosophical position possibility posteriori present principle probability properly basic propositions question reason regarded rejected relation relevant reliability sense experience sensory shown similar simply situation statement substance sufficient supernatural supernaturally caused suppose testimony theory things thought Tillotson's transubstantiation true truth undermine University violation