Miracles - quotes - Flashcards in A Level and IB Philosophy

Created by: JodieBooTrifle
Created on: 13-05-16 13:13

"A violation of the laws of nature"

Hume's definition of a miracle. They're improbable events, least likely event possible

1 of 9

"A wise man... proportions his belief to the evidence"

Hume- argument against miracles. Whether or not one believes that something is true is dependent on the evidence for and against it being true. Miracles are't rational

2 of 9

"Miracles... are mutually destructive across religions"

Thompson- Hume's argument against miracles. Miracles from religions support their own particular beliefs. Therefore, if one is correct, the others must be false

3 of 9

"A religionist may be an enthusiast, and imagines he sees what has no reality"

Hume - we should not trust accounts of miracles which can be influenced by religious belief. Also stated miracles are found in "ignorant and barbarous nations" whose account we can't trust either

4 of 9

"We can declare... that there are no miracles"

John Hick - science POV. Miracles cannot happen because of the definition of 'natural law'. If an unusual event happens, we should widen our understanding of a natural law to allow the possibility of this new event, not assume it's a miracle

5 of 9

"It's preferential to base beliefs on facts rather than odds"

Cantwell - Maybe it's better to examine the evidence rather than concentrating on the probability of miracles

6 of 9

"Therefore the argument for the existence of God based upon miracles seems to be quite weak"

Cantwell - Whether or not one believes an event to be miraculous is largely dependent upon prior religious beliefs

7 of 9

"The reasonable investigator goes by the available evidence here..."

Swinburne - defending miracles. It is difficult to outweigh the scientific evidence. but we have enough historical evidence to suggest that there is a God who can violate the laws of nature

8 of 9

"A coincidence can be taken religiously as a sign and called a miracle"

R.F Holland - amazing coincidences. A miracle does not have to violate the laws of nature, it's an extraordinary coincidence that doesn't break any laws

9 of 9

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Hume- argument against miracles. Whether or not one believes that something is true is dependent on the evidence for and against it being true. Miracles are't rational

Back

"A wise man... proportions his belief to the evidence"

Card 3

Front

Thompson- Hume's argument against miracles. Miracles from religions support their own particular beliefs. Therefore, if one is correct, the others must be false

Back

Card 4

Front

Hume - we should not trust accounts of miracles which can be influenced by religious belief. Also stated miracles are found in "ignorant and barbarous nations" whose account we can't trust either

Back

Card 5

Front

Back

View more cards

Get Revising

Miracles - quotes