Hume's Argument Against The Existence Of Miracles

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Hume’s argument against the existence of miracles is based on his belief of the empiricism. He wrote “experience be our only guidance in reasoning concerning matters of fact... but in some case is apt to lead us into errors”.(83) Hume means that errors didn’t exist in the experience itself, but when we are facing the uncertainty of empirical knowledge, we all need to follow one principle, “a Wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence”(84). By proportion, he means that faced with a belief, people may find different experiences. For example, some people say I have seen dinosaurs, some people say I have not seen dinosaurs. By comparing these experiences, the one we are more inclined to be the true conclusion. In his words “two opposite experience, of which the one destroys the other”(86). …show more content…

Up to this part, I agree with Hume. However, when he goes on talking about his allegations against those who believe and tell the story about miracles, I could agree with him anymore. Hume thinks that the person who tells and listens to the miraculous story works for the other party, “their credulity increase his impotence, and his impudence overpowers their credulity”(88). As discussed earlier, Hume mentioned the relationship between eyewitness and historian. He needs two opposing competitions to get the conclusion. Yet I think the answer may not even exist on either side. The belief in miracles is just not a wise man’s choice or they have their own purpose in

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