Chapter 3.1: Carl Hempel, laws in history

Summary

This lecture explores the nature of historical explanation, focusing on Karl Hempel's deductive-nomological model, which draws parallels between history and the natural sciences. Hempel suggests that historical events can be explained through general laws in the same way physics explains phenomena. However, historians differ from natural scientists in that they seek to understand specific events rather than general laws. The lecture highlights the challenges of applying Hempel's model to history, emphasizing the uniqueness of historical events and the distinction between the study of individual occurrences in history and the search for general scientific laws.

Takeaways

• 😀 History is not just about knowing facts, but about explaining why events happened the way they did.
• 😀 Historical research aims to understand not only the what but the why of historical events.
• 😀 The deductive-nomological model, proposed by Karl Hempel, suggests that all sciences use the same kind of explanation based on laws linking causes and effects.
• 😀 Hempel's model applies deductive reasoning, where a general law leads to a specific conclusion about an event.
• 😀 According to Hempel, historical events should not be seen as random, but rather as outcomes that could be expected given certain conditions.
• 😀 A key example is the women’s suffrage movement in the Netherlands, which is explained through the general law linking social movements with political disruption.
• 😀 The deductive-nomological model faces challenges in history, as counterexamples (like France’s delayed suffrage) show that not all historical events fit neatly into general laws.
• 😀 History focuses more on understanding individual events and their specific contexts, whereas natural sciences aim to identify general laws that apply universally.
• 😀 The contrast between history and natural sciences is significant: natural scientists study individual events to understand general principles, while historians often study individual events for their unique historical significance.
• 😀 The lecture emphasizes that historians do not have universal laws like physicists, and their explanations are often focused on understanding the details of specific historical episodes rather than finding generalizable laws.

Q & A

Why is historical research more than just knowing the facts?

Historical research goes beyond just collecting facts because historians aim to explain those facts and understand why events happened as they did. They look for the reasons behind historical occurrences, exploring causes, effects, and the interplay of different factors.

How do historians explain events in history, according to the script?

Historians explain events by constructing narratives that go beyond the mere listing of facts. They provide explanations by making connections between various factors, often within a specific context, helping us understand why something happened the way it did.

What is the significance of women getting the right to vote in the Netherlands in 1919?

The significance of women gaining the right to vote in 1919 in the Netherlands lies in the fact that it is a historical event that can be explored to understand the larger context of societal changes in Europe. It also provides a basis for historians to explore why this occurred at that specific point in history, considering political and social conditions.

What is the Deductive Nomological Model developed by Karl Hempel?

The Deductive Nomological Model, developed by Karl Hempel, is an explanation framework where an event is explained using a deductive argument supported by laws. These laws establish causal relationships between events and their effects, leading to predictable outcomes based on those laws.

What is the role of 'laws' in Hempel’s model of historical explanation?

In Hempel’s model, 'laws' are general causal links that can be applied to explain historical events. A law is seen as a consistent relationship between causes and effects that holds true in multiple instances, helping to explain why certain events occurred.

Why does Hempel believe that history works like physics?

Hempel believed that history, like physics, follows the same scientific method, where events can be explained using general laws. He argued that if you understand the process of explanation in one science, it should be applicable to other fields, including history.

What is a potential issue with applying Hempel’s Deductive Nomological Model to history?

A potential issue is that history doesn't seem to have universal laws that apply to every case. The example of women’s suffrage in different countries shows that historical events do not always follow predictable patterns or laws, which challenges the assumption of uniform laws in historical explanations.

Why do historians focus more on individual events rather than general laws?

Historians typically focus on individual events because they are more interested in understanding the specifics of particular episodes of history. Unlike natural scientists, who look for general laws, historians seek to explore and explain the unique details and complexities of each historical situation.

How does the focus of historians differ from that of natural scientists?

Historians tend to focus on understanding the unique details of individual events, while natural scientists are more interested in discovering general laws that apply universally. This difference in approach reflects the nature of the disciplines: the humanities often deal with specific, contextual understanding, while the natural sciences focus on broader, generalizable principles.

What was the impact of the First World War on the women's suffrage movement in the Netherlands?

The First World War had a significant impact on the women's suffrage movement in the Netherlands, as it acted as a disruptive political event that accelerated the movement for women's right to vote. The war context created the necessary conditions for the suffrage movement to succeed during or soon after the war.