Abstract

THIS ARTICLE TRIES TO SHOW THAT NONE OF THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS ARE A PRIORI OR DEFINITIONAL TRUTHS: 1) MIRACLES ARE RARE, OR GO AGAINST UNIFORMITIES OBSERVED IN THE WORLD; 2) MIRACLES VIOLATE NOMIC LAWS, OR STATEMENTS THAT WOULD BE LAWS BUT FOR THE OCCURRENCE OF MIRACLES; 2) MIRACLES ARE OUTSIDE THE REALM OF NOMIC LAW, ARE EITHER PARTLY OR COMPLETELY UNEXPLAINABLE IN TERMS OF NOMIC LAWS; 4) SUPERNATURAL BEINGS ARE OUTSIDE THE REALM OF NOMIC LAWS; 5) IT IS ALWAYS RATIONAL TO DISCOUNT ANY OSTENSIBLE EVIDENCE FOR MIRACLES; TO EXPLAIN IT IN SOME TERMS OTHER THAN BY SAYING GENUINE MIRACLES ACTUALLY OCCURRED