Hempel C. G. Philosophy of Natural Science / Carl G. Hempel. — Englewood Cliffs : Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966. — 116 p. — (Foundations of Philosophy Series).
Анотація: Carl G. Hempel was a prominent philosopher of science known for his contributions to the logical analysis of scientific theories and the development of the "Covering Law" model, often represented by the "Hempel's Cube."
Key Ideas in Hempel's Philosophy of Natural Science Hempel's Cube This is a model used to analyze scientific theories by examining the relationship among three main aspects:
Empirical Support: How well the theory is supported by observational or experimental data. Theoretical Strength: The internal logical structure and explanatory power of the theory. Empirical Content: The quantity and quality of phenomena that the theory can explain or predict. Scientific Explanation Hempel believed that scientific explanation involves providing a logical or causal account of phenomena, often through deduction from general laws and initial conditions, which allows for understanding and prediction.
Growth of Scientific Knowledge He emphasized that science advances through the refinement, replacement, or modification of theories in light of new empirical evidence, emphasizing a logical and systematic progression.
Logical Positivism Hempel was closely associated with logical positivism, which stressed the importance of logical analysis and empirical verification in philosophy and science.
Significance in Philosophy of Science Hempel's models and analyses significantly contributed to understanding how scientific theories are structured, tested, and validated. His "cube" remains a classical framework for analyzing the relationship between theory, evidence, and explanation in science.