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Born
Hilary was born in Chicago.
His father was a writer and a translator, which would later explain Putnam's views and his thirst for the truth and knowledge behind his interests (De Gaynesford, pg 1).
Image cite
https://www.economist.com/obituary/2016/03/26/the-meaning-of-meaning -
School and Interests
Putnam graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (De Gaynesford, pg 8). He majored in philosophy and mathematics. Where he later changed the outlook for some in those subjects as well as others. -
Impacts Putnam made by his way unique way of thinking
In the 1950's proposed a new approach to mental phenomena, functionalism. He wanted to reveal the how more so than reasons behind why. Putnam gained his doctorate and his PHD (De Gaynesford, pg 8-9). -
Putnam pushes for change
In the 1960's, Putnam had believed that as our beliefs change science changes and that included terms changing as well (Ben-Menahem, pg 17). Putnam wrote an article stating his thoughts on realism in regards to philosophy of science (De Gaynesford, pg 10). -
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Putnam's time at Harvard
Putnam took a job as a professor at Harvard. It later states he took on interest in a pragmatic view, mostly to due to influences through his time there (De Gaynesford, pg 11). -
Putnam's "Twin Earth"
Putnam proposed a thought experiment in which it explains how words can mean one thing for someone but then have an alternative meaning for another person (Ben-Menahem, pg 22). By providing this outlook to people he had impacted a change in the subjects of language, philosophy, math, and much more (Hickey, pg 17).
Image cite
https://jackbrummet.blogspot.com/search/label/parallel%20universe -
Putnam's "Meaning of meaning"
Best known for his work "Meaning of meaning". Putnam tried to explain his stance on taking a realism approach to alter the traditional ways of philosophy and science in which he believes theories can have more than one explanation (Ben-Menahem, pg 20). Many years later Putnam explains his views on his work stating he meant for it to be applied to a variety of words (Hickey, pg 38). -
Putnam changes his views
Putnam changed his views and stance he had when he first wrote "Meaning of meaning" and how obtaining the truth of things he questioned, leading to his explanation in his work " Meaning and Moral Sciences" and "Realism and Reason" (Hickey, pg 57). He later realized incorporating all different terms of realism lead him to further truths on how traditional ways of philosophy is necessary (Hickey, pg 65). -
Died
Putnam died in 2016. Before he did he continued to explain his beliefs and why that had changed on his career. He had many published books, articles, and interviews in which he always detailed his views (De Gaynesford, pg 217-224).
