Miracle and Its Philosophical Presuppositions

This monograph examines the philosophical foundations underlying the concept of miracle, offering a systematic analysis of the epistemological and metaphysical assumptions that must be addressed before meaningful discourse about miraculous events can occur. Tennant approaches the subject not primarily as a theological defender of miracles but as a philosopher interested in clarifying the conceptual framework within which miracle claims operate.

The work begins by distinguishing between popular and philosophical conceptions of miracle. Tennant argues that the common understanding of miracles as violations of natural law rests on an inadequate philosophy of nature. He contends that this view presupposes a mechanistic universe governed by inviolable laws, a presupposition he subjects to rigorous critique. Instead, Tennant proposes that nature should be understood as exhibiting regularities rather than absolute laws, leaving conceptual space for extraordinary events without requiring logical contradictions.

Central to Tennant's analysis is his treatment of causation. He maintains that the possibility of miracle depends on recognizing multiple levels of causation operating in the universe. While natural science investigates physical causes, this investigation need not exhaust causal explanation. Tennant argues that theistic philosophy can coherently posit divine causation operating alongside, rather than in violation of, natural processes. This approach sidesteps the traditional conflict between scientific and religious worldviews by rejecting the assumption that they operate in mutually exclusive domains.

The monograph engages critically with David Hume's influential argument against miracles, identifying what Tennant considers to be question-begging assumptions in Hume's reasoning. Particularly significant is Tennant's claim that Hume's argument relies on an empiricist epistemology that prejudges the impossibility of divine action. By exposing these presuppositions, Tennant aims to reopen philosophical space for rational consideration of miracle claims.

Tennant's contribution lies not in defending specific miracle accounts but in demonstrating that the concept of miracle remains philosophically coherent when freed from mechanistic assumptions about nature. His work provides intellectual resources for theistic philosophers seeking to articulate how divine action might relate to natural processes without abandoning rational inquiry. The monograph thus serves as a sophisticated philosophical ground-clearing exercise, establishing conceptual conditions under which miracle claims might be rationally evaluated rather than dismissed a priori. This approach has influenced subsequent philosophical theology, particularly discussions about divine action and the relationship between science and religion.