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The Existence of Miracles

However to suggest that a miracle had occurred is to assume that the natural laws have been violated, hence his definition of miracles being "violation of natural laws".
             Hume suggests that "a wise man proportions his beliefs to according to the evidence." According to Hume the only evidence we have available to us is the testimonies and accounts written down by others. Looking back at the quote made by Hume concerning the use of evidence, it must be asked; how useful are these testimonies? Hume rejected the reliability of using others testimonies as evidence of miracles and suggested that the only way we ought to believe in a miracle story is if it would be more incredible that all the witnesses were mistaken than if the event were true. Hume does not accept chance or supernatural intervention hence he appeals for us to go with the evidence we are given and to consider which state of affairs is more probable (probability is key in Hume's theoretical argument), a miracle or an ordinary explanation.
             Hume's second reason for rejecting miracles is presented in his 'practical argument'. Hume considered the education of the apparent miracle viewers. Hume said that miracles were only reported by those who were not educated enough to understand the scientific explanation of the event. Hume also took in to consideration the education level of the entire country in which a miracle was reported to of happened, he noted how the early history of countries is full of miracles and visions due to the 'ignorant and barbarous population'. However as a country develops and the population becomes more educated such stories disappear. Moreover Hume asserted that we should be wary of evidence because of "the passion of surprise and wonder arising from miracles" is an "agreeable notion", essentially Hume was saying that some religious people know that the stories they recount are false yet continue to spread them because it is done for a good cause.


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