Hume's Critique of Miracles
Airing on
Probe Radio
April 12-17 |
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Michael Gleghorn — One of the most influential critiques of miracles ever written came from the pen of the skeptical Scottish philosopher David Hume. The title of the essay, “Of Miracles,” originally appeared in Hume’s larger work, An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding, first published in 1748. This was the Age of Enlightenment, a time in which skepticism about miracles was becoming increasingly widespread among the educated elite. So what were Hume’s arguments, and why have they been so influential in subsequent scholarly discussions of this topic?
Hume essentially “presents a two-pronged assault against miracles.” He first argues that “a miracle is a violation of the laws of nature.” But since “a firm and unalterable experience has established these laws, the proof against a miracle,” he says, “is as entire as any argument from experience can possibly be imagined.” In other words, given the regularity of the laws of nature, Hume contends that miracles are exceedingly improbable events. But this is not all. He also argues that since miracle reports typically occur among uneducated, barbarous peoples, they are inherently untrustworthy and, hence, unworthy of our belief.
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| MEET THE AUTHOR |
 MICHAEL GLEGHORN
"The philosopher David Hume published his extremely influential
critique of miracles in 1748. Even today, it is widely regarded as one
of the most devastating critiques ever written. But the contemporary
philosopher of science, John Earman, describes Hume’s essay as an
“abject failure.” I wanted to find out why—and communicate the results
to our listeners.” "
Michael is a research associate with Probe Ministries. After earning a B.A. in psychology from Baylor University and a Th.M. in systematic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, he is back at DTS pursuing more suffering a Ph.D. in theology. The joy of Michael's life is his wife Hannah, their daughter and brand new baby boy.
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