Hume, Holism, and Miracles

David Johnson

Published by Cornell University Press 1999

Hume, Holism, and Miracles

David Johnson

In the series Cornell Studies in the Philosophy of Religion

https://doi.org/10.7591/9781501731303

Overview
Contents

About this book

David Johnson seeks to overthrow one of the widely accepted tenets of Anglo-American philosophy—that of the success of the Humean case against the rational credibility of reports of miracles. In a manner unattempted in any other single work, he...

Author / Editor information

David Johnson is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Yeshiva University.

Reviews

George I. Mavrodes, University of Michigan:

This short book.... consists of an incisive and illuminating critical study of Hume's celebrated chapter, "Of Miracles," and of the elaborations and defenses of that line of argument by several later philosophers.... There is much to be learned here about testimony and miracles, about the doing of philosophy, and in some cases about the history of philosophy.

The discussion of terms constitutes one of the most valuable features of the book. Undergraduates embarking on a study of Hume will benefit immensely from the definitions themselves and from the discussion of issues implicit in the definitions of these terms. Graduates will benefit from examining closely reasoned arguments.... While the volume will not change the minds of confirmed Humeans, it does constitute a needed counterweight in Humean studies.

William Harper, University of Alabama:

Johnson defends Hume's own treatment from some of the usual barbs, and presents as clear a statement of Hume's reasoning as I have seen anywhere.

Robert Audi, University of Nebraska:

A book of quality, brevity, and, in many places, charm, Hume, Holism and Miracles is a major contribution both to the philosophy of religion and to Hume scholarship.

Johnson writes concisely and argues incisively. These qualities, though creating difficulties for undergraduates, will be attractive to philosophers reading this inventive and very worthwhile... contribution to the miracles debate.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
1. Promissory Note Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. 'Miracle', 'Violation', 'Law of Nature' Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	5
3. Hume's Own Argument Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	11
4. Hume's Argument as Reconstructed by J. L. Mackie Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	22
5. Hume's Argument as Reconstructed by John Stuart Mill Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	28
6. Hume's Argument as Reconstructed by Antony Flew Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	46
7. Hume's Argument as Reconstructed by Jordan Howard Sobel Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	55
8. Repetitions Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	68
9. Hume's Teasing Ambiguity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	93
Closing Remarks Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	98
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	101
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	105

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Audience: General/trade;
Pages
- Main content: 128
Keywords: Religious Studies; Philosophy

eBook

Published: September 5, 2018
ISBN: 9781501731303