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Work #434 · Mid

Aspects of Scientific Explanation

Carl G. Hempel
1965 · English
Philosophy of science essays · Anglo-American logical-empiricist philosophy of science

Hempel's 1965 essay collection — the deductive-nomological (covering-law) account of scientific explanation

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Aspects of Scientific Explanation (Mid)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method —
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

⧖

Time

Aspects of Scientific Explanation

The logical time of explanation.

✦

Space

Aspects of Scientific Explanation

The conceptual space of laws and conditions.

◉

Matter

Aspects of Scientific Explanation

The material reality explained by laws.

◎

Observer

Aspects of Scientific Explanation

The scientific explainer.

⚡

Energy

Aspects of Scientific Explanation

Energies of deductive-nomological explanation.

⧉

Information

Aspects of Scientific Explanation

D-N / I-S covering-law framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Aspects of Scientific Explanation

Hempel's covering-law model in continuing controversy with causal-mechanistic and unificationist accounts of explanation.