Preview

John Locke And David Hume: The Definition Of Miracle

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1195 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
John Locke And David Hume: The Definition Of Miracle
If you had to define the word miracle how would you define it, do you even believe miracles to be true? I know that myself surely believes in them. This whole world is too amazing not to believe. The word miracle and meaning behind it is something I have never dove deep into and have never really questioned so, after reading chapters eight and chapter nine in Faith& Reflection and seeing two different definitions of what John Locke and David Hume think a miracle is to them, I definitely have two new views on the definition of a miracle and I am very eager to share my thoughts with you. To start off, I want to be clear and state that I believe that John Locke's thoughts and beliefs on miracles could in principle, be justified. Locke not only gives his personal definitions but, he backs them up with stories and facts. Although there were parts of David Hume's that I wanted to agree with and that truly made me think, I do not believe that his definition and thoughts of a miracle could be justified and I overall do not agree with his thoughts and beliefs of a miracle. …show more content…
I had grown up thinking miracles have always been God's work and to this day I believe that. So, upon reading John Locke's thoughts, facts, and definition of a miracle I was imminently drawn to him. I never have thought of the idea of miracles never really happening or never ringing true so upon reading Hume's thoughts on miracles I was almost left speechless and a little confused on my thoughts but, I knew in my heart the true meaning and understanding of the word miracle and I did not agree with Hume's
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Sign Miracles Research Paper
    • 1059 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Sign Miracles Research Paper

    Healing of the Lame Man: Jesus went up to Jerusalem during the time of a feast "and a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years." Jesus asked the man will thou be made whole? The lame man replied that he had no one to put into the pool when the water was troubled. "Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked." This sign miracle shows the deity of Christ because Jesus has power over time and the ability to heal all manner of sickness and…

    • 1059 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    David Hume's Powerful Ideas: An Analysis
    • 120 Words
    • 1 Page

    David Hume's Powerful Ideas: An Analysis

    In Powerful Ideas, An Introduction to Philosophy, aesthetics means "coming from the senses" which is a derivitive of the Greek word, aisthetikos (241). David Hume's believed that emotions are significant in both aesthetics and ethics. In addition, he stated that aesthetics involves both contemplation and judgment. He strongly believes that not everyone is suitable or qualify to judge art.…

    • 120 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mackie's Argument Of David Hume On Miracles
    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Mackie's Argument Of David Hume On Miracles

    To discuss the argument of Hume on miracles, Mackie says we must first develop definitions of laws and miracles that does not automatically mean that the concept of a miracle is incoherent or is logically impossible the miracle occurs. ~ Mackie notes that if we define a miracle as a violation of a law of nature and set a law to be a pattern of how the world works, then it is impossible that the miracle occurs. These definitions imply that the bill violated the miracle was not really a law, because it is an exception; eZeentis thus not a miracle, because it does not violate any law. But that argument Hume and Mackie said that to dis- cuss Hume's argument we need different definitions of laws and miracles. We need an account of the laws and miracles…

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Jeremiah as a Christ Figure in Peace Like a River
    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Jeremiah as a Christ Figure in Peace Like a River

    Some miracles are very obviously connected to Jeremiah, like his walking off the truck, but there are others that are not so obvious. In the New Testament, Jesus feeds five thousand people with five loaves of bread and three fish, which connects to the somehow refilling pot of soup that Tin Lurvy kept eating. Supposedly, Jeremiah would boil water with some vinegar and that would help Reuben breathe better, but I believe it was Jeremiah himself when he made it for him.…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Modern History of Sourcebook: Thomas Paine: of the Religion of Deism Compared with the Christian Religion
    • 272 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Modern History of Sourcebook: Thomas Paine: of the Religion of Deism Compared with the Christian Religion

    Point of interest of the text is the description of the weakness in the existence of miracle and as far as I see is the revelation that every man may have at the end of time. The author says that it is far too easy, it somehow illogical. In comparison to the reality that we usually talking about are, nothing is free in this world, at least you need to do a thing to get something, and something is not coming from nothing. Something should be a granted in order for human to get in to the heaven, if it is really exist. In the creed’s inconsistency, improbability and irrationality against the reason posses by the human minds the author make a distinct comparison to the Deism.…

    • 272 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Owen Meany Compared To Jesus Christ
    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Owen Meany Compared To Jesus Christ

    Throughout the novel "a prayer for Owen Meany," by John Irving, the main character is portrayed as a very religious martyr. In the Christian faith Jesus Christ is a martyr as well. Although there are many differences between the life of Jesus, as depicted in the bible and Owen Meany, there are many similarities as well, so many in fact, that the reader is forced to ponder if these similarities are intentional.…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Faith In John Wheelwright's A Prayer For Owen Meany
    • 1281 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Faith In John Wheelwright's A Prayer For Owen Meany

    Like anything in life, faith starts out for most as a journey. Often growth in faith is so gradual it is hardly noticeable. There’s no thundering voice of God striking down the disbelievers, but rather small miracles like getting an A on a test with little preparation. It is only self reflection faith grows because of struggles in life. In A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, John Wheelwright’s faith and his belief in miracles juxtaposes Owen Meany’s innate beliefs. John Irving follows John Wheelwright’s growth in faith and miracles and highlights Owen’s steady support.…

    • 1281 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Eight Miracle Signs in John
    • 1426 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Eight Miracle Signs in John

    Jesus performed eight particular miracles in the Gospel of John that revealed His deity. These miracles are unique to study because they all serve towards showing us that Jesus is Divine. They also show different aspects of Jesus’ divinity. Seemingly these miracles were purposeful in their intent towards showing those present with Jesus, and millions that have followed, aspects of Jesus’ power and mission. These miracles serve as a witness to all of us of Jesus’ authority. They also provide comfort when we reflect on the fact that nature, spirit and life all are in His control and hand.…

    • 1426 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Assess Hume s response for rejecting miracles
    • 1133 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Assess Hume s response for rejecting miracles

    David Hume puts forward two separate but very closely related arguments against miracles. Hume argues that the probability of miracles actually happening is so low that is irrational and illogical to believe that miracles do occur. Hume is an empiricist, meaning that he emphasises experience and observations of the world as the way of learning new things.…

    • 1133 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Paine Research Paper
    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Thomas Paine Research Paper

    “[Miracles] would not…answer any useful purpose.” said Thomas Paine, author of “Common Sense.” In Paine’s mind, miracles were out of the question because Christ would be degrading Himself and nature would have to change its natural order to accommodate Jesus. Perhaps, Paine could be considered a bit of a snob. Jesus walked the earth long before Paine’s time and had to use example from that time period to help people understand much like how Paine had to examples from the war in his paper to stir people to action. Christ used miracles in the culture He was in to help people trust him.…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    John Locke: Did the Fallen Tree Make a Sound?
    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages

    John Locke: Did the Fallen Tree Make a Sound?

    John Locke was known as an empiricists epistemologists whose essay has puzzled many minds and made many observations into the human knowledge. Even though many consider John Locke a failure there are a ton more who consider him a brilliant mind. “Though the qualities that affect our senses are, in the things themselves, so united and blended, that there is no separation, no distance between them: yet it is plain, the ideas they produce in the mind enter by the senses simple and unmixed.” (An Essay Concerning Human Understanding pg 86) there is no doubt that if the mind thinks the tree makes a sound then it does according to Locke. Yet the argument is to be made that any mind can make a rash thought of ideas that no longer are plausiable. Sometimes the mind needs something as simple as the tree fallen sounding to reset itself and to be reassured.…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Peace Like a River
    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Peace Like a River

    Ultimately, miracles are only miracles if they are witnessed. Reuben, the witness, develops an inseparable relationship with God through the miracles of his birth, his father walking on air, and his…

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    John Locke's Argumentative Analysis
    • 257 Words
    • 2 Pages

    John Locke's Argumentative Analysis

    In an effort to establish boundaries for the use of faith in argument, Locke offers descriptions of faith and reason as well as their proper usage. Although Locke believes both can be used to acquire knowledge it’s no secret that he places a strong preference on reason. So much so, that Locke regards all knowledge gained through faith alone as unreliable unless validated by reason.…

    • 257 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    David Hume: A Famous Philosopher
    • 1897 Words
    • 8 Pages

    David Hume: A Famous Philosopher

    Hume is an Empiricist, this means that he believes that the source of a humans knowledge derives from or mostly from their sensory experiences. In short, people gain knowledge from their experiences. For example, children learn languages through constantly hearing someone (a parent or guardian) speaking to them in a certain language. Another example is that one can come to know what different colors are due to actually seeing the colors. Simply knowing the name of a color does not entail that someone knows what the color actually looks like. One can never fully come to know what a color is by simply being given the definition because in order to know what a color is, one must have a visual of the color to connect with the name. Thus according to Hume, a person learns and obtains knowledge through sensory…

    • 1897 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Analysis – Amazing Grace
    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Analysis – Amazing Grace

    The contents of “Amazing Grace” are overwhelmingly powerful. In the first paragraph, John Newton used words to describe who he was and how a certain sound changed his life. “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, / That saved a wretch like me! / I once was lost but now am found, / Was blind, but now I see.” (cited in Clugston, 2010). In this paragraph, Newton used words such a wretch to describe himself. He also stated that he was lost, but the sweet sound helped him and guided him to see, which to me meant that he began to differentiate between right and wrong.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics