Could somebody explain Hume's Maxim to me?

[BiggJawn]

"That no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous than the fact which it endeavors to establish."

"When anyone tells me that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself whether it be more probable, that this person should either deceive or be deceived, or that the fact, which he relates, should really have happened. I weigh the one miracle against the other; and according to the superiority, which I discover, I pronounce my decision, and always reject the greater miracle. If the falsehood of his testimony would be more miraculous than the event which he relates; then, and not till then, can he pretend to command my belief or opinion."

I'm tripping over the language. Is Hume saying that if somebody says "I saw a dead man come back to life" that statement could be true IF its being a lie would be more incredible than it being true?

How would one go about testing the "miraculousness of the falsehood"?

If I can't "get" this, i'm afraid reading Shermer's "Why people believe Weird Things" is gonna be a waste of time...

[lazarus]

1. It's basic falsifiability

Basically, if I say I can float in the air, the odds are greater that I'm lying than that I can float in the air.

If I say I just flew in an airplane, unless you have reason to believe that I'm lying, the odds are I just flew in an airplane.


"That no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous than the fact which it endeavors to establish."

This simply is another way of saying that extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.

Here's a good breakdown on the whole concept:

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/extraproof.html

[BiggJawn]

2. I think I get it now.

And thanks for the link!
Well, back to the book!

[lazarus]

3. happy to help!

Both are great books.

[Hissyspit]

4. Read Shermer

It won't be a waste of time.

[BiggJawn]

5. Oh, I intend to...

I was a little stuck on the Hume, though, and was afraid that it is key to understanding Shermer.

The title drives straight to the heart of something I have been puzzled by for years, why ordinarily "intelligent" people believe stuff like UFOs, Jonathon Edward, crystals, Gordon Michael Scallion (I had a boss who was heavy into that) Channeling, and the more dangerous topics, like religion...