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Is Hume's famous quote on miracles equivalent to Sagan's extraordinary claim principle?

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Final answer:

David Hume's scrutiny of miracles requires substantial evidence to prove their occurrence, aligning with Carl Sagan's principle that extraordinary claims necessitate extraordinary evidence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks whether David Hume's perspective on miracles is equivalent to Carl Sagan's principle that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Hume's famous quote on miracles essentially argues that evidence for such extraordinary events must be robust and convincing.

Specifically, he lists criteria for credible testimony, such as a sufficient number of witnesses, public performance, and witnesses of integrity. Moreover, Hume believes that miracles, which by definition violate the laws of nature, do not occur and are impossible to prove, aligning with Sagan's principle that claims which drastically contradict established understanding of the world require significant evidence to be credible.

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