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What makes us put events into their natural kinds? For example, if someone wins the lottery after praying to the moon God, it might be the first time someone won after praying to the moon God. That person might classify that as an event of the first of its kind.

Another person might classify this event as belonging to the group of events categorized as "lottery wins that occurred after praying to a deity." Since people have won lotteries after praying to a deity, this event is not seen as unique.

User Halkujabra
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Final answer:

Events are classified into 'natural kinds' based on common characteristics, aiding humans in understanding and predicting occurrences. The identification of an event as a miracle requires it to contravene the laws of nature and be indisputably proven.

Step-by-step explanation:

Human perception and categorization contribute to the classification of events into 'natural kinds' based on similarity, causality, or shared properties. For instance, a lottery win following a prayer to a moon god might be a unique occurrence for the individual, but broadly, it could fall under the category of events where individuals win lotteries after praying to deities. This broader categorization stems from an understanding of shared characteristics among events—even if those commonalities are thematic rather than factual. The tendency to group similar events helps humans make sense of the world and predict future occurrences.

In the context of determining whether an event is a miracle, two criteria are typically considered: the event must violate the laws of nature, and there must be clear, indisputable evidence that the event occurred as reported. Therefore, an unusual or extraordinary event is not necessarily a miracle if it can be explained through natural factors or lacks undeniable proof. Essentially, miracles are rare events that appear to defy scientific understanding by contravening the established laws of nature.

User Aleksander Fular
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