Philosophy Colloquium, Murali Ramachandran
\nHempel\u2019s Paradox of the Ravens
\nBy Murali Ramachandran (Witwatersrand, Philosophy)<\/p>\n
Date: Thursday, 5th March, 2020
\nTime: 1540-1710
\nPlace: H-232<\/p>\n
Abstract: Hempel\u2019s paradox of the ravens arises from two very compelling principles, SUPPORT and EQUIVALENCE:<\/p>\n
SUPPORT
\nObservations of FGs support (confirm, count as positive evidence for) the hypothesis \u2018All Fs are G\u2019, so long as no non-G Fs have been observed.
\n(E.g. observations of tigers with stripes supports the hypothesis [All tigers have stripes], so long as tigers without stripes have not been observed.)<\/p>\n
EQUIVALENCE
\nEvidence that supports a hypothesis equally supports any logically equivalent hypothesis.
\n(E.g. any evidence which supports [There are Latvian vegetarians] equally supports [There are vegetarian Latvians])
\nNow consider the following statements:
\n[Rave] All ravens are black.
\n[NoB] All non-black things are non-ravens.
\nThese are logically equivalent: one cannot be true without the other being true as well. By SUPPORT, observation of a red pencil, say, being an observation of a non-black nonraven, supports hypothesis [NoB], and thus, by EQUIVALENCE, also supports hypothesis [Rave] that all ravens are black.
\nIt is at least prima facie paradoxical that a red pencil should count as positive evidence for a hypothesis about ravens!
\nThis is Hempel\u2019s paradox of the ravens. My goal in this talk is to explain why I think causal realists\u2014that is, just about all of us(!)\u2014escape the paradox.
\n(Those already familiar with the paradox can get a foretaste of my position by looking at my paper here)
\nAbout the speaker: Murali Ramachandran\u2019s research is focused on metaphysics, philosophy of language and philosophical logic. He is currently Associate Professor in philosophy at Witwatersrand University. Previously he taught at Trinity College Dublin, Manchester University and Sussex University. He has published in journals such as Mind, Philosophical Quarterly, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Philosophical Studies and Analysis.<\/p>\n
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Philosophy Colloquium, Murali Ramachandran Hempel\u2019s Paradox of the Ravens By Murali Ramachandran (Witwatersrand, Philosophy) Date: Thursday, 5th March, 2020 Time: 1540-1710 Place: H-232 Abstract: Hempel\u2019s paradox of the ravens arises from two very compelling principles, SUPPORT and EQUIVALENCE: SUPPORT Observations of FGs support (confirm, count as positive evidence for) the [\u2026] <\/p>\n