Hilary Putnam [Hardcover]

This book offers an overview of Putnam's ideas, his key writings and his contributions to the various fields of philosophy. Thematically organized, the book begins with Putnam's work in the philosophy of language and shows how his theory of semantic externalism serves as a lynchpin for understanding his thought as a whole. Crucially, the author also examines the ways in which Putnam has shifted his position on some key philosophical issues and argues that there is in fact more unity to Putnam's thought than is widely believed. An entire chapter is devoted to Putnam's pragmatism and the possibilities this provides for revitalizing contemporary philosophy. This is the ideal companion to study of this hugely influential thinker.

Introduction
1. The Road to Semantic Externalism

i. The Legacy of Positivism

ii. A New Theory of Natural Kind Terms

iii. Early Putnam and Scientific Naturalism

iv. The Meaning of 'Meaning'

v. The Scope of Putnam's Externalism

vi. Conclusion

2, Externalism, Realism and Skepticism

i. Benedict Putnam?

ii. Scientific Realism and Metaphysical Realism

iii. The Model Theoretic Argument

iv. Verificationist Semantics?

v. Internal Realism

vi. Brains in a Vat

vii. Conceptual Relativity

viii. Conclusion

3. Mind, Body and World

i. The Rise of Functionalism

ii. The Fall of Computational Functionalism

iii. Externalism and Content

iv. Problems with Perception

4. The Collapse of the Absolute Perspective

i. Putnam's Pragmatism

ii. Collapse of the Fact/Value Distinction