Carl Gustav Hempel

Carl Gustav Hempel was a German philosopher known for his work in the philosophy of science and logic. He contributed to understanding how scientific theories are confirmed through empirical evidence, emphasizing the importance of observation. Hempel is also known for the "Hempelian dilemma," addressing the challenges of inductive reasoning—drawing general conclusions from specific instances. Additionally, he explored the analytic-synthetic distinction, differentiating between statements that are true by definition and those that require empirical verification. His work has significantly influenced how we think about scientific reasoning, causality, and the structure of scientific explanations.