I need help paraphrasing the SECOND REASON in David Hume's "Of Miracles." I am having a hard time understanding the reading.
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If you copy and paste it here, we'll be glad to help you.
Secondly. We may observe in human nature a principle which, if strictly examined, will be found to diminish extremely the assurance, which we might, from human testimony, have in any kind of prodigy. The maxim, by which we commonly conduct ourselves in our reasonings, is, that the objects, of which we have no experience, resembles those, of which we have; that what we have found to be most usual is always most probable; and that where there is an opposition of arguments, we ought to give the preference to such as are founded on the greatest number of past observations. But though, in proceeding by this rule, we readily reject any fact which is unusual and incredible in an ordinary degree; yet in advancing farther, the mind observes not always the same rule; but when anything is affirmed utterly absurd and miraculous, it rather the more readily admits of such a fact, upon account of that very circumstance, which ought to destroy all its authority. The passion of surprise and wonder, arising from miracles, being an agreeable emotion, gives a sensible tendency towards the belief of those events, from which it is derived. And this goes so far, that even those who cannot enjoy this pleasure immediately, nor can believe those miraculous events, of which they are informed, yet love to partake of the satisfaction at second-hand or by rebound, and place a pride and delight in exciting the admiration of others. 3
With what greediness are the miraculous accounts of travellers received, their descriptions of sea and land monsters, their relations of wonderful adventures, strange men, and uncouth manners? But if the spirit of religion join itself to the love of wonder, there is an end of common sense; and human testimony, in these circumstances, loses all pretensions to authority.
With what greediness are the miraculous accounts of travellers received, their descriptions of sea and land monsters, their relations of wonderful adventures, strange men, and uncouth manners? But if the spirit of religion join itself to the love of wonder, there is an end of common sense; and human testimony, in these circumstances, loses all pretensions to authority.
This is one reason why he doesnt believe in miracles.
This is hard to understand!
Let's take a few parts:
"the objects, of which we have no experience, resembles those, of which we have; that what we have found to be most usual is always most probable;"
We believe those things that we've experienced.
"we readily reject any fact which is unusual and incredible in an ordinary degree;"
We don't believe incredible facts."
" But if the spirit of religion join itself to the love of wonder, there is an end of common sense;"
Religion may mean the end of common sense.
In short, Hume is saying that if we don't understand something, that doesn't mean that it's a miracle.
Let's take a few parts:
"the objects, of which we have no experience, resembles those, of which we have; that what we have found to be most usual is always most probable;"
We believe those things that we've experienced.
"we readily reject any fact which is unusual and incredible in an ordinary degree;"
We don't believe incredible facts."
" But if the spirit of religion join itself to the love of wonder, there is an end of common sense;"
Religion may mean the end of common sense.
In short, Hume is saying that if we don't understand something, that doesn't mean that it's a miracle.
Thanks so much, you have been a great help!
You're very welcome.
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