From the Periphery to the Center

Nagel’s, Feigl’s, and Hempel’s respective conceptions of the cognitive status of physical theories are comparatively discussed. As will be seen, all three of these conceptions stood in the logical empiricist tradition. However, whereas Nagel and Hempel argued in terms of ‘syntacticism’, Feigl favored a semantic point of view. For him, notions such as ‘reference’, ‘meaning’, and ‘truth’ had to be taken seriously. At the same time, Feigl sought a realist interpretation of the logical empiricist program, whereas Nagel and Hempel were more cautious in this respect. On the whole, it will turn out that Feigl, at least regarding his account of the cognitive status of physical theories, ultimately remained at the periphery of the logical empiricist movement.