PHIL 266 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Richard Swinburne
5 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
Before modern period ( ~ 1600), a miracle was that which is exceptional or unusual in the course of things. Until mid-17th century, there was no conception of laws of nature, that is, of rules or forces that constrain the things in nature to behave as they do. Knowledge of natural laws is based on constant experience (hume) Reports of miracles are always from a small number of biased reporters. Witnesses are unreliable, prone to human gullibility, and generally unable to convince educated people. Interested in scrutinizing the grounds for accepting reports of miracles; but, thinks hume"s argument is imperfect. Suggests anyone who claims a miracle occurred has the double burden of (1) showing that the event took place, and (2) showing the event violated the laws of nature. Suggests these two tasks are in contrast with each other. To the extent that something occurs. it is for that same reason not incompatible with the natural order of things.
