Hempel's dilemma
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For Hempel's paradox, see Raven paradox.
Hempel's dilemma is a question first asked (at least on record) by the philosopher Carl Hempel.[1] It has relevance to naturalism and physicalism in philosophy, and to philosophy of mind.
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The dilemma questions how the language of physics can be used to accurately describe existence, given that it relies on imperfect human linguistics, or as Hempel stated: "The thesis of physicalism would seem to require a language in which a true theory of all physical phenomena can be formulated. But it is quite unclear what is to be understood here by a physical phenomenon, especially in the context of a doctrine that has taken a decidedly linguistic turn."[2]