The epistemic theory of miracles is the name given by the philosopher William Vallicella to the theory of miraculous events given by St. Augustine and Baruch Spinoza. According to the theory, there are no events contrary to nature — that is no "transgressions", in Hume's sense, of the laws of nature. An event is a miracle only in the sense that it does not agree with our understanding of nature, or fit our picture of nature, or that it thwarts our expectations as to how the world should behave. According to a perfect scientific understanding there would be no miracles at all.
The name of the theory is derived from the Ancient Greek word ἐπιστήμη, episteme, meaning "well-founded knowledge".
Read more about Epistemic Theory Of Miracles: Augustine's Account, Spinoza's Account, John Polkinghorne, McLean V. Arkansas, Islamic View of Miracles
Famous quotes containing the words theory and/or miracles:
“The theory seems to be that so long as a man is a failure he is one of God’s chillun, but that as soon as he has any luck he owes it to the Devil.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)
“A star was broken
Into the centuries of the child
Myselves grieve now, and miracles cannot atone.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)