All About Hilary Putnam

Hilary Putnam

1926

Hilary Putnam (1926-2016) was an influential American philosopher known for his contributions to the philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and metaphysics. He was born in Chicago and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied mathematics and philosophy. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1951, where he was a student of Hans Reichenbach.

Early life of Hilary Putnam.

Jul 31, 1926

Hilary Putnam was born on July 31, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his father, Samuel Putnam, was a translator and his mother, Riva Kapuścińska, was a writer and pianist.
Putnam attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1948 and his master's degree in 1950. He then went on to Harvard University, where he received his Ph.D. in philosophy in 1951 at the age of 25.

University of Pennsylvania

1948

Putnam studied mathematics and philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1948. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1951.Putnam taught at several prestigious universities throughout his career, including Princeton, Harvard, and MIT. He was a leading figure in the development of the philosophy of mind, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s.

Putnam received his PhD in Philosophy from Harvard University in 1951

1951

Hilary Putnam received his PhD in Philosophy from Harvard University in 1951. During his time at Harvard, Putnam studied under notable philosophers such as C.I. Lewis, Nelson Goodman, and W.V. Quine. He went on to become a highly influential philosopher himself, making significant contributions to a wide range of philosophical fields, including the philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and metaphysics.

Putnam moved to MIT

1961

In 1961, Putnam moved to MIT, where he continued to develop his ideas about the philosophy of language and the nature of truth. He remained at MIT until 1965, when he returned to Harvard University, where he had earned his PhD. At Harvard, Putnam continued to be a major force in the field of philosophy, publishing influential works such as "Meaning and Reference" (1973) and "The Many Faces of Realism" (1987).

1980

1980

In the 1980s, Hilary Putnam's work shifted towards the philosophy of mind, where he became known for his influential arguments against functionalism and his development of the idea of multiple realizability. Functionalism is a theory of mind that suggests mental states can be defined in terms of their causal roles or functions, rather than their physical or material properties. According to functionalism, mental states such as beliefs or desires are not tied to any physical state.

Putnam in 1997

1997

In 1997, Putnam was awarded the Schock Prize in Logic and Philosophy, a prestigious award that recognizes outstanding contributions in these fields. Putnam was awarded the prize for his work in the philosophy of language, the philosophy of science, and the philosophy of mind, as well as his contributions to the development of the theory of truth.

Putnam Passing

Mar 12, 2016

Hilary Putnam passed away on March 13, 2016, at the age of 89 due to complications from cancer. Putnam had been diagnosed with cancer several years prior to his death, and his health had been in decline for some time. Despite his illness, Putnam continued to work and publish right up until the end of his life, and he remained an active and engaged member of the philosophical community until his passing.