Hempel claims that all legitimate scientific explanations conform to his covering law model of scientific explanation. That is, they all explain a given phenomenon by citing (i) relevant natural laws and (ii) a relevant set of initial conditions. In your response, present a counterexample to Hempel’s model—in other words: do your best to come up with an example of a (generally considered) legitimate scientific explanation that does not, or a scientific field whose explanations generally do not, appear to conform to Hempel’s model. Then argue whether or not Hempel could accommodate the counterexample. Could he develop a way of explaining how the apparent conflict with his model could be resolved? Or not? (In other words: is the counterexample a genuine counterexample or merely an apparent counterexample?)
Assignment One: Preparing to Ask
1 Think about something that you would like to ask for but you have not asked for yet. Explain what you would like to ask for and whom you would like to ask. Write this information.
2. Next, develop a rationale for (explain) why you want/need what you are asking for
3. What can you do for or offer the other party that will help persuade them to give you what you want?
4. Make a Commitment. To succeed in asking for what you want, you need to commit to asking your designated person for what you want. Therefore, find someone else (e.g., friend, family member, partner) and tell them who and what you plan to ask. Decide when and where you want to make the request. Provide the name and relationship of the person you’re committing to, as well as when and where you will ask your target.
5. Finally, now that you have committed to someone else to ask for what you want, you need to plan what you want to say and how you will reply to the other person’s response.
- What will you say if the other person agrees to your request?
- What will you say if the person says no?
- What will you say if the other person seems irritated?
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