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Education
Hempel studied mathematics, physics and philosophy,and received his Ph.D from the University of Berlin with a dissertation on the theory of probability. He taught at multiple universities from 1939 to 1985, some of which included Yale, Princeton, Berkeley and Jerusalem. During these years Hempel published approximately 7 essays in the area of confirmation and explanation. -
The Raven Paradox
The raven paradox is known to be one of Hempel's most notable work. This theory was published by Hempel in the 1965 essay " Studied in the Logic of Confirmation", but was introduced initially around 1945. The theory is expresses the paradox of confirmation, and how if a=b and b=c then by theory a=c, which is false. Here is a visual explanation of The Raven Theory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SKmqh5Eu4Y&vl=en -
Studies in the Logic of Explanation
Hempel and P. Oppenheim published an essay in the journal Philosophy of Science entitled " Studies in the Logic of Explanation." This essay explained the criteria for a scientific fact, which require for all the explanans (things an explanation consist of) to be true in order for it to be accepted. -
Inductive-Statistical Model
In the publication "Inductive-Statistical Explanation" (1965), Hempel explains the issue of a universally accepted law that has only been tested few times on one medium. For instance, if a plant was kept without water and dies within ten days, this would be accepted as the standard for survival as related to deprivation of water. Hempel proposes that the probability of this being a fact increases with the amount of connections that can be made in support of the theory.
