Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
In this paper, I intend to contrast the positions of Ludwig Wittgenstein and David Hume on miracles. While Hume holds that miracles are violations of laws of nature which can never be probable, Wittgenstein would reject this definition. Instead, he takes a broader stance on miracles and holds that many events which are not transgressions of laws of nature can be seen as miraculous. And the point of this is to highlight the vastly different events we call miracles. Contra Hume, Wittgenstein thinks that even some of our greatest certainties can call up in us a sense of absolute wonder and awe, and thus, be thought of as miracles.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
James Van Dore
College Affiliation
College of Arts & Letters
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Disciplines
Philosophy of Language | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
Session Title
College of Arts & Letters UGR #2
Location
Zoom
Start Date
3-19-2022 3:30 PM
End Date
3-19-2022 4:30 PM
Upload File
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Included in
Philosophy of Language Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons
Wittgenstein and Hume on Miracles
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In this paper, I intend to contrast the positions of Ludwig Wittgenstein and David Hume on miracles. While Hume holds that miracles are violations of laws of nature which can never be probable, Wittgenstein would reject this definition. Instead, he takes a broader stance on miracles and holds that many events which are not transgressions of laws of nature can be seen as miraculous. And the point of this is to highlight the vastly different events we call miracles. Contra Hume, Wittgenstein thinks that even some of our greatest certainties can call up in us a sense of absolute wonder and awe, and thus, be thought of as miracles.