John Locke''s thoughts about miracles in the commentaries of contemporary Western researchers
The article reveals the characteristic features of the understanding by contemporary Western researchers of the ideas of J. Locke about miracles. Numerous scientific materials are analyzed in detail. The problem field of the understanding of the ideas of Locke about miracles is reconstructed. The years of publication of Locke's works that the researchers used are mentioned. The references of the researchers to the analyzed fragments of these works are checked and listed. In the first part of the article, the works of R.M. Burns, M.R. Ayers, R.J. Berry, M.S. Rabieh, J.J. MacIntosh, N. Wolterstorff, G. Brykman are analyzed. In the second part, the works of J.I. Israel, T.B. Mooney and A. Imbrosciano, V. Nuovo, M. Losonsky, A.L. Herold are analyzed. In conclusion, the following derivations are made. Firstly, it cannot be said that the understanding by contemporary Western researchers of the ideas of Locke about miracles is systematic. More often it is produced in the context of the study of any aspects of Locke's religious-philosophical and related ideas. Secondly, in spite of this, contemporary Western historical-philosophical literature addresses all the basic problems of Locke's reflections about miracles in varying degrees: (1) the epistemology of miracles, (2) the meaning of Christ's miracles, (3) the definition of a miracle, (4) genuine and false miracles. This is due to the fact that when describing and understanding Locke's ideas about miracles, the researchers turn (separately and in various combinations) to the materials of all sources most significant from the point of view of the topic under consideration. However, again, it cannot be said that all of Locke's ideas about miracles have been studied systematically and thoroughly. Thirdly, herewith, the researchers make an accent on the interpretation of some of Locke's ideas illustrating his (indeed, substantial) contribution to the formulation of the ideas related to the justification of faith in miracles that confirm the divine revelation, as well as the divinity of Christ. Nevertheless, which is especially important, the questions of the ambivalence of Locke's ideas about miracles are quite often raised in contemporary Western historical-philosophical literature.