Summary It is well known that Hempels ‘classical’ approach to scientific explanation leads to a lot of difficulties with regard to the real world of inquiry, especially to that of the humanities. Seen against this background alternative views on explanation have become more and more attractive during the last years. The present paper deals with a recent contribution made by O. Schwemmer (a representative of the ‘Erlanger Schule’). His conception of explanation is explicitly meant to apply to the actual practice (...) of the humanities. Contradicting Schwemmer's own claim it is argued that his logic of explanation is not applicable and not relevant to the work of the humanities. The examples are taken from philology. (shrink)