Abstract
Miracles and the problem of evil are two prominent areas of research within philosophy of religion. On occasion these areas converge, with God’s goodness being brought into question by the claim that either there is a lack of miracles, or there are immoral miracles. In this paper I shall highlight a second manner in which miracles and the problem of evil relate. Namely, I shall give reason as to why what is considered to be miraculous may be dependent upon a particular response to the problem of natural evil. To establish this claim, I shall focus upon Aquinas’s definition of a miracle and a particular free-will defence, the Luciferous defence.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
On this occasion we need only concern ourselves with the response’s formulation as a free-will defence (which is offered as a solution to the logical problem of evil). However, the reply can also be formulated as a free-will theodicy (which is offered as a solution to the evidential problem of evil).
Swinburne, The Existence of God, p.238.
Matthew 17:24–27 (given a literal interpretation).
Aquinas distinguishes between two types of circumstantially supernatural miracle: those which nature can cause in a particular order, but such an order is not present (such as living after death), and those which nature can cause given a sufficient duration of time, but such a time has not passed (such as recovering from a heavy fever in a second).
Exodus 7:11, 7:22, 8:7; Matthew 24:24; Revelation 13:14, 16:14.
My thanks to Daniel Cohen, Graeme Mclean, Peter Forrest, Nick Trakakis and Sarah Bachelard for their comments on this paper.
References
Basinger, D. (1984). Miracles as Violations: Some Clarifications. The Southern Journal of Philosophy, 22, 1–8.
Boyd, G. A. (2001). Satan and the Problem of Evil. New York: Intervarsity Press.
Collins, J. (1947). The Thomistic Philosophy of the Angels. Washington, D.C: Catholic University Press.
Davies, B. (1993). An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Davis, S. T. (1981). Free Will and Evil. In S. Davis (Ed.), Encountering Evil, pp. 73–107. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
Dietl, P. (1968). On Miracles. American Philosophical Quarterly, 5, 130–134.
Flew, A. (1967). Miracles. In P. Edwards (Ed.), Encyclopaedia of Philosophy vol. 5, pp. 346–53. New York: Macmillan and Free Press.
Geisler, N. (1990). When Skeptics Ask. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
Hebblethwaite, B. (1976). Evil, Suffering and Religion. New York: Hawthorn Books.
Hughes, C. (1992). Miracles, Laws of Nature and Causation. Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, supplementary volume 66, 179–205.
Hume, D. (1975). Of Miracles. In L. A. Selby-Bigge (Ed.), Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, pp. 114–116. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Keller, J. (1995). A Moral Argument Against Miracles. Faith and Philosophy, 12, 54–78.
Keller, E., & Keller, M.-L. (1984). Miracles in Dispute: A Continuing Debate. London: SCM Press.
Larmer, R. (1996). Questions of Miracle. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Larmer, R. (1998). Water into Wine?: An Investigation of the Concept of Miracle. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Lewis, C. S. (1940). The Problem of Pain. London: Collins.
Luck, M. (2007). Supernatural Miracles and Religious Inclusiveness. Sophia, 46, 287–293.
McKenzie, D. (1999). Miracles Are Not Immoral: A Response to James Keller’s Moral Argument Against Miracles. Religious Studies, 35, 73–88.
Overall, C. (1996). Miracles as Evidence Against the Existence of God. In R. Larmer (Ed.), Questions of Miracle, pp. 132–139. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Plantinga, A. (1977). God, Freedom, and Evil. New York: Harper & Row.
Purtill, R. L. (1997). Defining Miracles. In R. Douglas Geivett & G. R. Habermas (Eds.), In Defense of Miracles: A Comprehensive Case For God’s Action in History, pp. 61–72. Downer’s Grove: InterVarsity Press.
Swinburne, R. (1970). The Concept of Miracle. London: Macmillan.
Swinburne, R. (2004). The Existence of God. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Vardy, P. (1992). The Puzzle of Evil. London: HarperCollins.
Ward, K. (2002). Believing in Miracles. Zygon, 37, 741–50.
Wiles, M. (1986). God’s Action in the World. London: SCM Press.
Young, R. (1972). Miracles and Epistemology. Religious Studies, 8, 115–126.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Luck, M. Aquinas’s Miracles and the Luciferous Defence: The Problem of the Evil/Miracle Ratio. SOPHIA 48, 167–177 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11841-009-0100-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11841-009-0100-0