Professor Lund Honors Philosophy of Science
12-04-16
Miracles: A Scientific and Religious Analysis
The concept of a miracle has been etched into our society for centuries. It’s a word that is used quite often in colloquial language, such as when one hears good news. To many, they are attributed to supernatural entities, saints, and prophets, such as those found in Judeo-Christian scripture. From parting the Red Sea to turning water into wine, these mystical events have captured the attention of billions worldwide. However, miracles can also be viewed in a scientific sense and force us to reconsider our fundamental understanding of nature. In fact, without their contributions, our society would not be nearly as advanced as it …show more content…
As previously stated, a miracle violates the laws of nature as they are understood in a timeframe. We can further consider them events that exceed the productive power of nature. For example, imagine a leaf moving through the air in the absence of wind and forces. According to our understanding of the laws of nature, this is impossible, and thus exceeds nature’s abilities. Furthermore, a miracle is not akin to an anomaly. The latter is simply an unlikely and rare event, but does not violate the known laws of nature. Any phenomenon to identify as a miracle must possess this crucial quality. This principle can be extended to a historical perspective when we consider discoveries that defied time-specific laws of nature. For example, Aristotelian physics proposed that the cause of falling heavy bodies was related to their composition, and that they moved towards the center of the universe as a result. Lighter bodies, such as air and fire, moved towards the center of the moon. To Aristotle and his pupils, objects were attracted towards earth due to their innate properties instead of a downward-acting force. Thus, this was the interpretation of gravity during their time, and consequently their law of nature. Centuries later, scientists such as Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton proved the existence of gravity and its tendency to attract objects, thus calling for a revision of the laws of nature as they