Who was Hume?
Philosopher and historian
Empiricist
Quote from Hume about evidence
‘A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence’
What is Humes approach to miracles?
‘A miracle is a violation of the laws of nature’
Thus the testimony would have to be very convincing; the more evidence we have for any event, the higher its probability
Quote from Hume on miracles as uncommon
‘Nothing is esteemed a miracle, if it ever happen in the common course of nature’
Humes definition of a miracle
A transgression of a law of nature by a particular volition of the deity, or by the interposition of some invisible agent
Humes main inductive argument against miracles: witness testimony
Witness testimony has to become more reliable in direct proportion to the improbability of what the witness claims to have observed
Humes main inductive argument against miracles: improbable events
The most improbable event would be a violation of the laws of nature
Because by definition the evidence must contradict the claim of a miracle having happened
Humes main inductive argument against miracles: conclusion
By definition the reported event is maximally improbable
The probability the witnesses are lying/wrong is greater than the probability a miracle has occurred
‘No human testimony can have such force as to prove a miracle’