Raven paradox
Page 1 of 1
Raven paradox
Hempel describes the paradox in terms of the hypothesis[1][2]:
(1) All ravens are black.
In strict logical terms, via the Law of Implication, this statement is equivalent to:
(2) Everything that is not black is not a raven.
It should be clear that in all circumstances where (2) is true, (1) is also true; and likewise, in all circumstances where (2) is false (i.e. if we imagine a world in which something that was not black, yet was a raven, existed), (1) is also false. This establishes logical equivalence.
Given a general statement such as all ravens are black, we would generally consider a form of the same statement that refers to a specific observable instance of the general class to constitute evidence for that general statement. For example,
pool cartridges
ray ban
(1) All ravens are black.
In strict logical terms, via the Law of Implication, this statement is equivalent to:
(2) Everything that is not black is not a raven.
It should be clear that in all circumstances where (2) is true, (1) is also true; and likewise, in all circumstances where (2) is false (i.e. if we imagine a world in which something that was not black, yet was a raven, existed), (1) is also false. This establishes logical equivalence.
Given a general statement such as all ravens are black, we would generally consider a form of the same statement that refers to a specific observable instance of the general class to constitute evidence for that general statement. For example,
pool cartridges
ray ban
kosovohp- Posts : 265
Join date : 2010-04-19
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|