What Are the Three Types of Hypotheses?

According to Carveth Read, hypotheses are of three types.

a) Hypothesis Concerning Agent:

When a hypothesis is framed with a supposition that a being or some agent is responsible for the occurrence of the event, it is considered as the hypothesis concerning agent. In case of a theft, the supposition is concerning persons committing the theft. Hence, those suppositions are hypothesis concerning agent

b) Hypothesis Concerning Collocation:

When provisional suppositions are formulated in respect of explaining certain facts of nature referring to certain circumstances responsible for the occurrence of the facts, those are considered to be hypothesis concerning collocation.

Geocentric hypothesis was framed by Ptolemy and heliocentric hypothesis was framed by Copernicus to explain the relation between the sun and the planets along with the causes of day and night. That is considered to be hypothesis concerning collocation

c) Hypothesis Concerning Law:

In respect of certain facts; the agent is known or the circumstances involved are known, but the method or process involved in it is not known. If presuppositions are framed for this unknown process, then it becomes a hypothesis concerning law.

Because the method does not refer to one particular instance, it is concerned with a type or category for which the verified hypothesis leads to a law.

The law of gravitation was established by a hypothesis of this sort.