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Philosophy of Logic
Professor Putnam's essay, which was initially published in 1971, deals with a philosophical problem related to the fields of logic and mathematics. The issue centers around whether the abstract concepts used in these fields actually exist. The essay also examines whether it is necessary to include these abstract concepts in logical arguments and in the study of physical science.
Putnam, Hilary "Philosophy of Logic" Routledge Revivals 04 Apr. 2014 Google Books https://rb.gy/utdw0 -
Mind, Language, and Reality: Philosophical Papers
Putnam wrote about how we use language and think. How the two affect how we understand the world, what we believe is accurate, and how we understand our own minds. Some people say our reasons can be explained by what they do. Others think our minds can't be reduced to just what we do.
Putnam, Hilary. Philosophical Papers: Volume 2, Mind, Language and Reality. Cambridge University Press, 1975, Google Books
https://rb.gy/3lw99 -
Reason, Truth, and History
The book encompasses two contrasting philosophical points of view: the external viewpoint, also known as metaphysical realism, and the internal philosophy, which Putnam advocates for. Putnam presents a compelling argument against the idea that we could be just brains in a vat. This argument has sparked a lengthy discussion that has significantly impacted the debate around realism.
Putnam, Hilary "Brains in a Vat" Reason, Truth, and History 1981 https://rb.gy/3potz -
Realism with a Human Face
The book is structured into three units. The first is around the evolution and protection of internal realism. The first essay explains why other options like metaphysical realism and relativism are inadequate in representing quantum mechanics, leaving Putnam's "internal realism" as the replacement. The second debates ethics and aesthetics, while the third is about the study of American pragmatism.
Putnam, Hilary "Realism with a Human Face" Harvard University Press 1990 https://rb.gy/23n6h -
The Collapse of the Fact/Value Dichotomy and Other Essays
Putnam delves into the reasons for the analytic philosophy of language, metaphysics, and epistemology's animosity towards the idea of rational or irrational study on human progress.
PUTNAM, HILARY. The Collapse of the Fact/Value Dichotomy and Other Essays. Harvard University Press, 2002. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1pdrpz4.
McReynolds, Phillip "Putnam on The Fact Value Dichotomy and Bad Philosophy" YouTube, americanphilosopher, 05 Sep. 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLJfEVu3kbY