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Miracle Reports, Moral Philosophy, and Contemporary Science

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Miracle Reports, Moral Philosophy, and Contemporary Science MIRACLE REPORTS, MORAL PHILOSOPHY, AND CONTEMPORARY SCIENCE by Hendrik van der Breggen A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2004 © Hendrik van der Breggen, 2004 I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. Hendrik van der Breggen ABSTRACT Miracle Reports, Moral Philosophy, and Contemporary Science In the case of miracle reports, David Hume famously argued that there is something about "the very nature of the fact" to which the testimony testifies which contains the seeds of the testimony's destruction as credible evidence. The Humean idea, still held by several important contemporary philosophers, is that the very concept of miracle has logical implications for the world, these implications (especially those arising from a miracle's law-violating nature) make a miracle extremely improbable, and so, at least for thinking J)Cople. reports of a miracle's occurrence are rendered unbelievable. Hume and apparently some of his contemporary disciples view this feature of miracle reports as an "everlasting check" against reasonable belief in reports of any miracle's occurrence. At the risk of seeming unfair to Hume, but taking seriously Hume and company's apparent judgment that the Humean argument is at least a present day check on miracle reports, this dissertation transfers the heart of the Humean argument into the present and it makes a case for thinking that, today, the Humean argument backfires. In this dissertation a close conceptual look is taken of the "very nature" of the miraculous object of a miracle testimony, a very nature paradigmatically given to us in the reports of Jesus' (allegedly) miraculous resurrection and virgin birth; and then an examination occurs of the logical implications of this conceptual analysis in the context of what science tells us is reasonable to believe about the world at the beginning of the 21st centuIy, and in the context of what some moral philosophizing allows us to reasonably believe as well. The result, this dissertation contends, is that, contraty to what Hume and company think, the concept of miracle contains the seeds not for weakening the credibility of a miracle testimony but for strengthening it The thesis of this dissertation is the following: On the specification of a miracle concept that is comprehensive enough to capture such paradigm cases as Jesus' allegedly miraculous resurrection and virgin birth (and which does not include a violation of a law ofnature clause in its definition), certain features ofthis concept's metaphysical and moral implications - when examined in the context of some implied/predicted findings from contemporary science plus some implied/predicted discernments from moral philosophy - serve to enhance the plausibility of a hypothesis which employs the miracle concept to describe the operation of a theoretical causal entity or power to make sense of some facts which suggest such an operation. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Had I known at the beginning the amount of effort, time, money, hardship and heartache my family and I would invest in this dissertation, this dissertation would probably not have been started. Nevertheless, in retrospect, I strongly believe that the project has been worth it. Truly, sometimes it is better not to know what the future holds. I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the following people who, over the years, have made a significant contribution to the completion of this project. (Of course, many others deserve mention too; to you I can only promise that you are appreciated.) Thanks go to: -Dr. Joseph Novak, thesis supervisor (Department of Philosophy, University ofWaterloo ). You have been a patient critic and a gracious academic guide. Thanks for persevering with me through this controversial dissertation. You have also become a wonderful family friend. We will never forget the huge chocolate "Incredible Hulk" you gave us as an Easter gift. It has brought a whole new dimension to the contemplation of Christ's resurrection. Mere chocolate bunnies will never be welcome in our house again! -Dr. William Abbott, departmental reader (Department ofPhilosophy, University ofWaterloo ). Your penetrating questions and comments have been truly helpful, adding clarity to my project; and your unfailing humour, wit, and personal warmth have always lifted my spirit. -Dr. Jan Narveson, departmental reader (Department of Philosophy, University of Waterloo). Your enthusiastic atheism plus your many objections have made me think very hard and very carefully, the result of which is, I am confident, a much stronger dissertation. -Dr. James Reimer, external-internal reader (Department of Religious Studies, Conrad Grebel College). Tackling this dissertation with such short notice was, I am sure, no easy task. Your assistance in this project is much appreciated. -Dr. Christine Overall, external-external reader (Department of Philosophy, Queen's University). You rekindled my (and my family's) confidence in philosophy as a truth-seeking endeavour which can be done with a genuine respect for those persons with whom one deeply disagrees. Thanks for modeling academic excellence coupled with humility and a caring heart. -Dr. Jeffrey Shallit, unofficial reader (School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo). Your enthusiastic skepticism and criticisms at the oral defence served to strengthen the dissertation. -The many scholars upon whose work this dissertation has built. I have tried my best to make explicit my debts to these men and women in the footnotes and in the bibliography. I am particularly grateful to Drs. William Lane Craig (Talbot School of Theology), Robert Larmer (University of New Brunswick), and Del Ratzsch (Calvin College). I am also grateful to C. S. Lewis and J. R R Tolkien, for helping to bring my heart into the doing of philosophy - and the doing of life. IV -Ms. Laurie Strome, library staff (Dana Porter Library, University of Waterloo), neighbour and family friend. You have been a Ph.D. student's dream-neighbour. I am certain that no other doctoral student has gotten Inter-Library Loan books and documents delivered to hislher home! Also, your volunteer work in making our neighbourhood a better place to live has helped to provide an environment much more conducive to study and writing - in spite of the occasional S.W.A.T. team running by our kitchen windows! -Trinity Evangelical Missionary Church (Waterloo). Of this group of genuinely caring people, I am especially grateful to Pastor Craig and Patti Arbon (and Charlene, Ryan, and Ben), Pastor Michael and Janice Bells, Wayne and Karen Beny (and Matthew), Don and Marlene Brenneman (and Denise, Melanie, and Michelle), Roy Bretz, Dr. Wayne and Heather Brodland (and Ben and Blake), John and Jocelyn Delong (and Graham, Lauren., and William), Harold and Mariom Dyer, Frank and Pam Ewald (and Alisha and Katie), Jack and Heidi Flatt (and Kevin, Corry and Tyler), Pastor Harvey and Rene Fretz, Floyd and Karen Gadd (and Thomas, William, and Bethany), John and Betty Galbraith (and Matthew, Laura, Bethany, and David), Pastor David ("Indiana Jones") and Fam Griffiths, Pastor Willis and Marion Hunking (and Garth), Jeanne Leis, John Littler, Howard and Doris Martin, Margaret Martin, Vernon and Darlene Mashinter (and Stephanie and Cassandra), Doug and Barb McDonald, Marilyn McIlroy, John and Gaby Montgomery (and Aaron, Heather, Hunter, and Trevor), Geoffand Sandra Moon (and Thomas and Meredith), Wayne and Ruth Morris (and Pamela, Karen, and Andrew), David and Nena Ogilvie, Edna ("Eddie") Rehkopf, Pastor Jeremy and Stephanie Shuart (and Alyssa and Kaitlyn), Gisbert and Gudrun Snethlage, Weybum and Debi Snider (and Amy and Rhoda), Doug and Doris Snoddy (and Timothy), Dr. Ken and Mary Stollery (and Anne and Clare), Rick and Marg Unger, Val West, Jim and Lynn Winter (and Edward, Diana, and Lindsey) - thank you for friendship, fme food, help with finances, and support in prayer. You have truly been a blessing to my family and to me. Also, a special thanks go to Geoff Moon and the Mechanics' Bible Study group (if ever you guys have an itch to fix another car, feel free to call us again). And thanks, too, to the Coffee Time crew, especially Harold and Marion Dyer. -The faculty, staff and students at Emmanuel Bible College (Kitchener) and Heritage College & Seminary (Cambridge). You provided a place of employment which brought me much joy as a budding philosophy teacher. You also reminded me that to track truth - truth which leads to Him who is the greatest of all truths - academic work needs to be conjoined with humility, holiness, and love. -Michael Romahn (Cambridge). Thanks for being a great student, a terrific TA, a respected colleague, and a good friend. -Paul and Brenda Jeffrey (Calgary). Your ongoing friendship, your ability to model a true and loving family (complete with home school), plus your sacrificial support over the years continue to point us to Him who is both The Truth and Love Incarnate. Thanks so very, very much. -Dallas and Matj Miller (Medicine Hat). Your ongoing friendship, your love of learning, your home school, and your work with the Home School Legal Defence League are greatly appreciated. -Dr. Wasi Pramono and Ida Iriana (Windsor).
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