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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.