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    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

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    Hilary Putnam — Carmelics
    Thinkers/Hilary Putnam
    Hilary Putnam

    Hilary Putnam

    contemporaryAnalytic Philosophy

    1926 – 2016

    Hilary Putnam (1926-2016) was an influential American philosopher who made major contributions to philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, philosophy of mathematics, and philosophy of science. Known for his intellectual honesty in repeatedly revising his own positions, he developed functionalism, the causal theory of reference, and internal realism, shaping analytic philosophy for over half a century.

    WWikipediaIEPInternet Encyclopedia

    Notable Achievements

    1

    Developed functionalism as a theory of mind

    2

    Co-formulated the causal theory of reference with Saul Kripke

    3

    Proposed the Twin Earth thought experiment demonstrating semantic externalism

    4

    Advanced the indispensability argument for mathematical realism (Quine-Putnam)

    5

    Introduced internal realism as an alternative to metaphysical realism

    Positions & Arguments

    (5)

    Natural Theology

    claim

    We can rationally believe both ourselves and God to be mental in nature from a practical point of view.

    Truth & Knowledge

    claim

    We can rationally believe both ourselves and God to be mental in nature from a practical point of view.

    Consciousness & Mind

    claim

    Lowe's solution to Bradley's regress merely replaces one equally thorny problem with another

    claim

    Bundle theory faces a problem of identity through change

    claim

    Whether a priori deducibility from the explanans is sufficient for explaining consciousness depends in part on the nature of the premises from which the deduction proceeds

    Modality & Possibility

    claim

    Ordinary objects include both actually concrete objects and possible objects that are not in fact concrete but could have been.

    At a Glance

    Ideas

    5

    Topics

    4

    Era

    contemporary

    Tradition

    Analytic Philosophy

    Topic Influence

    Consciousness & Mind3
    Truth & Knowledge1
    Modality & Possibility1
    Natural Theology1

    Related Thinkers

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    Dive Deeper

    Explore Consciousness & Mind→See Truth & Knowledge→
    4 shared
    John Locke4 shared