Hilary Putnam [Paperback]

The essays in this volume discuss Putnam's major philosophical contributions.The richness of Putnam's philosophical oeuvre consists not only in the broad spectrum of problems addressed, but also in the transformations and restructuring his positions have undergone over the years. The volume discusses Putnam's major philosophical contributions to the theory of meaning, the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of science and mathematics, and moral theory. It also constitutes a critical introduction to a number of central issues in contemporary philosophy, including quantum logic, realism, functionalism, the minds as computer metaphor, and the fact/value dichotomy.The richness of Putnam's philosophical oeuvre consists not only in the broad spectrum of problems addressed, but also in the transformations and restructuring his positions have undergone over the years. The volume discusses Putnam's major philosophical contributions to the theory of meaning, the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of science and mathematics, and moral theory. It also constitutes a critical introduction to a number of central issues in contemporary philosophy, including quantum logic, realism, functionalism, the minds as computer metaphor, and the fact/value dichotomy.This volume appraises the major philosophical contributions of Hilary Putnam (b. 1926) to the theory of meaning, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and mathematics, and moral theory. Concerned not only with the broad spectrum of problems addressed, it also details the transformations and restructuring his positions have undergone over the years. The analysis constitutes a critical introduction to central issues in contemporary philosophy, including quantum logic, realism, functionalism, the mind as computer metaphor, and the fact/value dichotomy.1. Introduction Yemima Ben-Menahem; 2. Putnam's 'the meaning of meaning': externalism in historical context Juliet Floyd; 3. The face of perception Charles Travis; 4. RealI