Defining Miracle and Associated Issues In this essay, I intend to summarize David Hume’s argument from An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, that supports his claim that, “[u]pon the whole, then, it appears that no testimony for any kind of miracle has ever amounted to a probability, much less to a proof…” (Hume 67). In addition, I intend to summarize, then, compare and contrast Hume’s argument to the view presented by John Hick in his book Philosophy of Religion. Lastly, I will give my own opinion as to which definition of miracles makes the most sense.
In An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, David Hume defined a miracle as “a violation of the laws of nature” (Hume 58). A result of Hume’s definition of a miracle there has been …show more content…
Hick points out that the experience evoked in the arguments of defining a miracle, as a violation of natural laws, is really a generality created a posteriori to explain what happened. Hick then explains that the scientific response to events that do not conform to the laws of nature is to amend what is already known about the laws of nature, and modify the understanding of them (Hick 38). For Hick, this indicates recognition that science does not preclude the possibility that events have occurred that violate natural law, and this opens up a space for miracles to be viewed in a religious sense (Hick …show more content…
Confronting the problem of definition first might help in surmounting the problem of ascription. The first step in defining the term miracle is to do an etymological trace of the word. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary traces the origin of the word miracle from its first known use in the 12th Century. The word is from the Latin miraculum meaning a wonder or a marvel (“Miracle.”). From this etymological trace comes the definition of miracle to be, “[a]n extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs” and “an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment ” (“Miracle”). These two definitions of what a miracle is seem to fit both Hume’s and Hick’s definition of a miracle. Consequently, the problem from definition can be easily resolved if the way in which the term is used in a statement is clearly defined. Therefore, both Hume and Hicks use of the term miracle are correct. It is only when the term miracle is used, or understood incorrectly, that a contradiction arises. The problem of definition is easily overcome by clearly using and understanding the way in which the term is
In An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, David Hume defined a miracle as “a violation of the laws of nature” (Hume 58). A result of Hume’s definition of a miracle there has been …show more content…
Hick points out that the experience evoked in the arguments of defining a miracle, as a violation of natural laws, is really a generality created a posteriori to explain what happened. Hick then explains that the scientific response to events that do not conform to the laws of nature is to amend what is already known about the laws of nature, and modify the understanding of them (Hick 38). For Hick, this indicates recognition that science does not preclude the possibility that events have occurred that violate natural law, and this opens up a space for miracles to be viewed in a religious sense (Hick …show more content…
Confronting the problem of definition first might help in surmounting the problem of ascription. The first step in defining the term miracle is to do an etymological trace of the word. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary traces the origin of the word miracle from its first known use in the 12th Century. The word is from the Latin miraculum meaning a wonder or a marvel (“Miracle.”). From this etymological trace comes the definition of miracle to be, “[a]n extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs” and “an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment ” (“Miracle”). These two definitions of what a miracle is seem to fit both Hume’s and Hick’s definition of a miracle. Consequently, the problem from definition can be easily resolved if the way in which the term is used in a statement is clearly defined. Therefore, both Hume and Hicks use of the term miracle are correct. It is only when the term miracle is used, or understood incorrectly, that a contradiction arises. The problem of definition is easily overcome by clearly using and understanding the way in which the term is