The Content of Science, The Methodology of Science and Hempel's Models of Explanation and Confirmation

Abstract

Peter Hempel’s generosity of spirit and sympathetic warmth are, of course, legendary. Let me add to the many examples others have related of how his life so deeply and positively affected their own by telling of my first meeting with him. In the middle of my first semester as a graduate student in theoretical physics at Princeton the growing awareness that I was not cut out for the life of a researcher into relativistic quantum field theory flashed into brilliant illumination: I needed out – and quickly! I crossed the short distance from Palmer Laboratory to McCosh Hall where Peter’s office was located and called on him to ask if there was any possibility whatever that I might be considered for transfer into the philosophy program – despite the facts that I had little formal training at all in philosophy and had made no formal application to the program. At best I expected some advice on how to start the procedures rolling so that I could apply for such a change of program, and, perhaps, some encouragement that there might be some possibility that I would be successful in my application. Needless to say it was with utter astonishment that I listened to his response to my sad tale of failure as a physicist and desire to change my field of studies: Of course, he said, I was welcome to the philosophy program. But didn’t I want to sit in on a few seminars first to make sure that this was a change I really wanted to make! The warmth of this initial welcome into the philosophy program was matched by the continuing support and encouragement that