Hilary Putnam

The richness of Putnam’s philosophical oeuvre consists not only in the broad spectrum of problems addressed, but also in the transformations and restructuring his positions have undergone over the years. The essays collected in this volume are sensitive to both these dimensions. They discuss Putnam’s major philosophical contributions to the theory of meaning, the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of science and mathematics, and moral theory. But, in addition, tracing threads of change and continuity, they analyze the dynamics underlying the unfolding of Putnam’s thought. The volume also constitutes a critical introduction to a number of central issues in contemporary philosophy, including quantum logic, realism, functionalism, the ‘minds as computer’ metaphor, and the fact/value dichotomy.

• One of the major contemporary philosophers • Very strong list of contributors • Offers a critical introduction to a number of central issues in contemporary philosophy

1. Introduction Yemima Ben-Menahem; 2. Putnam’s ‘the meaning of meaning’: externalism in historical context Juliet Floyd; 3. The face of perception Charles Travis; 4. Realism, beyond miracles Axel Mueller and Arthur Fine; 5. Putnam on scepticism Yemima Ben-Menahem; 6. The tale of quantum logic Tim Maudlin; 7. Another philosopher looks at quantum mechanics Nancy Cartwright; 8. Structural realism and contextual individualism John Stachel; 9. The rise and fall of machine functionalism; 10. The pragmatic turn: the entanglement of fact and value Richard J. Bernstein.