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Early life
Carl Gustav Hempel was born in Oranienburg, near Berlin, Germany. Works cited:
Jeffrey, Richard. "In Memoriam: Carl Gustav Hempel." Erkenntnis, vol. 47, no. 3, 1997, pp. 281-283. ProQuest, https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/docview/195460954?accountid=8289, doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy1.apus.edu/10.1023/A:1005339312532. -
Period: to
Carl Gustav Hempel
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University of Berlin
Hempel begins studies at the University of Berlin. -
Early Studies
Hempel studied mathematics, physics, and philosophy at the universities of Gottingen, Heidelberg, Berlin, and Vienna, receiving his doctorate in Berlin, Germany. Works cited:
Jeffrey, Richard. "In Memoriam: Carl Gustav Hempel." Erkenntnis, vol. 47, no. 3, 1997, pp. 281-283. ProQuest, https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/docview/195460954?accountid=8289, doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy1.apus.edu/10.1023/A:1005339312532. -
The Big Move
Carl Hempel and his wife Eva Ahrends move to the United States settling in Chicago, the main reason for the move was the growing issues in Germany. Carl's wife Eva had jewish bloodlines would have been putting her life at risk. Works cited:
Jeffrey, Richard. "In Memoriam: Carl Gustav Hempel." Erkenntnis, vol. 47, no. 3, 1997, pp. 281-283. ProQuest, https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/docview/195460954?accountid=8289, doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy1.apus.edu/10.1023/A:1005339312532. -
The Raven Paradox
The Hempel paradox or more commonly known as the Raven paradox was formulated throughout the 1940s, it is a simple but yet highly complex statement about confirmations of observations made. If we observe ravens we will see that they are all black therefore all ravens are black and anything non black is not a raven. The link included is a video that elaborates on the paradox more.
https://youtu.be/_SKmqh5Eu4Y -
"The Function of General Laws in History"
Published one of many of his important papers. works cited:
Fetzer, James. “Carl Hempel.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 6 Sept. 2017, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hempel/. -
Publishes three major papers
"Studies in the Logic of Confirmation", “Geometry and Empirical Science”, and “The Nature of Mathematical Truth”. works cited: Fetzer, James. “Carl Hempel.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 6 Sept. 2017, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hempel/. -
Most Controversial
“Studies in the Logic of Confirmation”, is published and this will be his most controversial work yet. "where he evaluates the conditions under which an empirical generalization would be confirmed or disconfirmed by instances or non-instances of its antecedent and consequent." (Fetzer 2017) Works cited:
Fetzer, James. “Carl Hempel.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 6 Sept. 2017, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hempel/. -
“Problems and Changes in the Empiricist Criterion of Meaning”
Is published while Hempel is at Yale. -
“The Concept of Cognitive Significance: A Reconsideration”
Is also published while at Yale. -
First book
Hempels first book is published, "Fundamentals of Concept Formation in Empirical Science". -
Princeton
Hempel moves to Princeton growing his understanding and research. -
Aspects of Scientific Explanation
Hempel writes and publishes the book Aspects of Scientific Explanation. -
Death
Carl Gustav Hempel passes away in Princeton, New Jersey. -
Selected Philosophical Essays
Books containing much of Hempel's work being released after his death show how influencing he was in the scientific community. -
The Philosophy of Carl G. Hempel: Studies in Science, Explanation, and Rationality
The book came out even after his death still has a profound effect and movement in the scientific community.
