tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22356730.post7682949183923788746..comments2023-10-29T20:50:33.666-04:00Comments on hyperekperissou: Sulpicius Severus, Life of St. Martin 12Phil Sniderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08944477827816680359noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22356730.post-67453861079339300732007-09-03T22:46:00.000-04:002007-09-03T22:46:00.000-04:00Phil,I was not arguing or intending to argue again...Phil,<BR/><BR/>I was not arguing or intending to argue against the miraculous acts. I really do not know what I think about them.<BR/><BR/>FWIW<BR/>jimBJimBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17312606954135884910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22356730.post-40787639414222829762007-09-03T20:21:00.000-04:002007-09-03T20:21:00.000-04:00I knew someone would ask me that. My answer has to...I knew someone would ask me that. My answer has to be that I don't know and I'm not sure we can know. What bothers me about a question (which is a standard historical question) is that I can't see how we could establish it. The modern historical method would, of course, suggest a no answer on the basis of probability (on the whole, it is not common for a person to be able to stop people from moving forward without some kind of visible force), but miracles themselves are, by definition, not probable. They are reversals of the common order of thing, by divine power. Because they are reversals, they are exceedingly improbable, unless we should rationalize them into something slightly less improbable. In this case, I can't see how you could do that. This means that, by the standard rules of historiography, you would have to say that they are not factual. <BR/><BR/>Yet, I would argue that this inability to take into account the improbable and miraculous is a weakness of the modern historical method. So, I would argue we have to keep open the possibility that these things happen. That makes me look like a historical crank, but, of course, only to a modern historian. A contemporary wouldn't blink an eye. <BR/><BR/>Peace, <BR/>PhilPhil Sniderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08944477827816680359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22356730.post-49859421865769368022007-09-02T18:54:00.000-04:002007-09-02T18:54:00.000-04:00Phil,I am curious how much you are invested in the...Phil,<BR/><BR/>I am curious how much you are invested in the miracles of St. Martin. Do you think the reports are factual?<BR/><BR/>FWIW<BR/>jimBJimBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17312606954135884910noreply@blogger.com