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The Philosopher
Hilary Putnam was an American philosopher renowned for his contributions to various areas of philosophy, including philosophy of mind, science, and language. Putnam's work spanned many areas and often involved shifting positions as he responded to new arguments and evidence, demonstrating a commitment to the dynamic nature of philosophical inquiry. -
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Education and Early Influences
In 1944, he enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania to study mathematics and philosophy. After graduating with a B.A in 1948, he began his graduate studies at Harvard University under the supervision of W.V.O Quine. During the 1950s he began his academic career, influenced by the prevailing logical positivism and behaviorism. Then became critical of these approaches, laying the groundwork for his later theories. -
Development of Functionalism
Putnam began developing functionalism, a theory in the philosophy of mind proposing that mental states are defined by their functional roles or causal relations rather than by their physical properties. He published "Psychological Predicates", where he formally introduced functionalism arguing that mental states can be understood as functional states of a system. This idea became a cornerstone in the philosophy of mind, influencing cognitive science and artificial intelligence. -
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Further Elaboration and Influence
In 1973 Hilary developed the Twin Earth thought experiment to address issues in the philosophy of language significantly impacting the philosophy of mind, particularly regarding mental content and semantic externalism. In 1975 he published "The Meaning of 'Meaning' " exploring the implications of this experiment arguing that meanings are determined not only by internal states but also by external factors challenging internalist views of the mind which advanced the theory of semantic externalism. -
Critiques and Reevaluations
In "Brains in a Vat," Putnam explores skeptical scenarios and their implications for the philosophy of mind and epistemology. He argues against the idea that our mental states could be the same if we were merely brains in vats, further supporting externalist views. -
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Later Works and Shifts
In 1988, Putnam published "Representation and Reality," critiquing the computational theory of mind and refining his views on functionalism by emphasizing external factors in understanding mental states. Throughout the 1990s, his views evolved as he grew increasingly critical of purely formal or mechanistic accounts of the mind. Putnam began to emphasize the role of the environment and the situated nature of cognition, aligning more with pragmatic and anti-reductionist approaches. -
Words and Life
In 1994 he released "Words and Life," a collection of essays that includes discussions on the philosophy of mind, highlighting his evolving thoughts and his engagement with pragmatism. -
Mind, Truth and Science
In 1998 Putnam did an interview discussing his whole thought process and ideas about his Theory of Mind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3gtfO-bcuQ -
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Philosophical Contributions and Legacy
In 2000, he published "The Threefold Cord: Mind, Body, and World," exploring the interconnectedness of mental states, physical embodiment, and environmental context, reinforcing his anti-reductionist stance. In 2004, he released "The Collapse of the Fact/Value Dichotomy and Other Essays," discussing the interrelation of facts and values, reflecting his holistic view of human cognition and understanding; further developing his emphasis on the complexity and situated nature of cognition. -
Later Life
In 2012 Hilary Putnam published "Philosophy in an Age of Science: Physics, Mathematics, and Skepticism", this is where he reflected on his philosophical journey, including his work on the philosophy of mind. -
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Effects After Death
On March 13th, 2016, Hilary Putnam left leaving a profound legacy in the philosophy of mind and many other areas of philosophy. His work on the theory of mind significantly influenced the field, particularly through his advocacy of functionalism and his later critiques of reductionist and internalist approaches. His contributions continue to be widely discussed and debated in contemporary philosophy.