David Hume on Miracles, Evidence, and Probability

Hume says we never have grounds to believe in miracles. He's right, but many commentators misunderstand his theory of probability and therefore his argument. This book shows that Humean probability descends from Roman law, and once properly contextualized historically and philosophically, Hume's argument survives the criticisms leveled against it.

List of contents

Acknowledgments

A Note on Citations

Prologue

Chapter 1. "Of Miracles" in Context

Chapter 2. Testimony

Chapter 3. Laws of Nature and Reports of Miracles

Chapter 4. Hume and the History of Evidential Probability

Chapter 5. Hume and the Bayesians

Chapter 6. Resolving an Apparent Conflict within Hume's Epistemology

Chapter 7. Flew, Fogelin, Ferguson, and Fogelin

Epilogue

Appendix

A Brief Biography of Hume

"Of Miracles" (Section 10 of Hume's The Enquiry concerning Human Understanding)

References

Index

About the author

William L. Vanderburgh is professor of philosophy at California State University, San Bernardino.

Summary

Hume says we never have grounds to believe in miracles. He’s right, but many commentators misunderstand his theory of probability and therefore his argument. This book shows that Humean probability descends from Roman law, and once properly contextualized historically and philosophically, Hume’s argument survives the criticisms leveled against it.

Product details

• Authors: William L. Vanderburgh, Vanderburgh William L. Vanderburgh
• Publisher: Lexington Books
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.12.2020
• EAN: 9781498596954
• ISBN: 978-1-4985-9695-4
• No. of pages: 206
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / Religious, PHILOSOPHY / Epistemology, Philosophy, PHILOSOPHY / Movements / Phenomenology, RELIGION / Philosophy, PHILOSOPHY / Movements / Existentialism, Philosophy of religion, Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge, Phenomenology & Existentialism, Phenomenology and Existentialism, Philosophy: epistemology and theory of knowledge