The argument from miracles is a type of theistic argument that claims the occurrence of miracles—events that appear to violate natural laws and are attributed to a divine agent—constitutes evidence for the existence of God or gods. It is often presented as an appeal to historical testimony or empirical observation, asserting that the best explanation for certain extraordinary phenomena is a supernatural cause.
Definition
The argument typically follows a logical form comparable to:
- Certain events have occurred that are best explained as violations of natural law.
- Such violations are most plausibly caused by a divine being.
- Therefore, a divine being (e.g., God) exists.
Variations may involve differing premises about the reliability of witnesses, the probability of natural explanations, or the nature of divine agency.
Historical Development
| Period | Contributors | Key Works / Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Antiquity | Early Christian apologists (e.g., Justin Martyr) | Use of miraculous accounts of Jesus to support Christian claims. |
| Medieval | Thomas Aquinas | In the Summa Theologica, Aquinas treats miracles as “signs” that can point to the existence and providence of God, though he emphasizes the need for credible testimony. |
| Early Modern | John Locke, Pierre Bayle | Discussed the epistemic status of miracle reports and their role in religious belief. |
| Enlightenment | David Hume | In “Of Miracles” (1763), Hume offered a systematic critique, arguing that testimony of miracles is always less probable than natural explanations and therefore cannot establish the existence of a supernatural cause. |
| Contemporary | William Lane Craig, Alvin Plantinga | Some modern defenders incorporate miracles into broader arguments for theism, often emphasizing Bayesian probabilistic reasoning. |
Philosophical Assessment
Supportive Views
- Epistemic Significance: Proponents argue that, if a reliable testimony reports a genuine violation of natural law, the event serves as a sign (in the theological sense) pointing toward a supernatural cause.
- Bayesian Analyses: Some contemporary philosophers apply Bayesian probability to assess whether the posterior probability of God’s existence increases given credible miracle reports.
Critical Views
- Hume’s Refutation: Hume contends that the probability of any reliable testimony being false is higher than the probability that a violation of natural law actually occurred, thus undermining the evidential value of miracles.
- Problem of Verification: Miracles, by definition, are singular and historically remote, making them difficult to subject to independent verification.
- Alternative Naturalistic Explanations: Advances in scientific understanding often provide natural explanations (e.g., psychological, medical) for events previously interpreted as miraculous, reducing their evidential weight.
Contemporary Usage
- Apologetics: Some Christian apologists cite contemporary alleged miracles (e.g., Eucharistic miracles, healings) as part of an argument for the truth of Christianity.
- Interfaith Dialogue: The argument appears in comparative religion discussions concerning the evidential status of miracle narratives across traditions.
- Legal and Historical Scholarship: Scholars sometimes evaluate miracle claims as historical sources, emphasizing methodological rigor and criteria of authenticity.
Related Concepts
- Argument from Design: An inference to the existence of a designer based on perceived order or purpose in the natural world.
- Argument from Experience: A broader category that includes personal or communal experiences as evidence for metaphysical claims.
- Appeal to Authority: The use of testimonial authority to support a claim, which may intersect with the argument from miracles when relying on religious authorities.
See Also
- David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (Section on miracles)
- Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (Part I, Question 48)
- William Lane Craig, The Kalam Cosmological Argument (discussions of miracles)
Bibliography (selected)
- Hume, David. “Of Miracles.” In An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, 1748.
- Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica, Part I, Question 48, 1272–1275.
- Craig, William Lane. Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics, 2008.
- Plantinga, Alvin. God and Other Minds, 1967.
- McGrath, Alister E. Theology: The Basics, 2007 (chapter on miracles and evidentialism).
The argument from miracles remains a contested topic within philosophy of religion, with ongoing debates regarding the epistemic credibility of miracle testimony, the plausibility of supernatural explanations, and the methodological standards appropriate for evaluating extraordinary claims.