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Hume on prophecy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2015

PADDY JANE MCSHANE
PADDY JANE MCSHANE*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets, N. W., Washington, D. C., 20057, USA e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Hume claims that his argument against miracles applies ‘without any variation’ to prophecies. While Hume's argument against miracles has been thoroughly examined in the philosophical literature, his claim that this argument works against prophecies has been left relatively unexplored. In this article I examine Hume's conception of ‘prophecy’ and I argue that it is flawed. I also argue, however, that Hume's argument against miracles does indeed apply to prophecies, but only if we amend Hume's conception of ‘prophecy’. I articulate and defend such an amendment.

Type
Articles
Information
Religious Studies , Volume 52 , Issue 2 , June 2016 , pp. 213 - 221
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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References

Beauchamp, Tom (1999) ‘Introduction’ to Hume, David, An Enquiry Human Understanding (New York: Oxford University Press).Google Scholar
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Harrison, Peter (1999) ‘Early modern apologetics, and Hume's argument against miracles’, Journal of History of Ideas, 60, 241–256.Google Scholar
Hume, David (1999) An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Beauchamp, Tom L. (ed.) (New York: Oxford University Press).Google Scholar
Spinoza, Baruch (1862) Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, Willis, Robert (tr.) (London: Trubner & Co.).Google Scholar