1932 – 2002
Jerrold Katz (1932-2002) was an American philosopher and linguist known for his work in the philosophy of language, semantics, and metaphysics. He co-developed the Katz-Fodor semantic theory and later advanced a distinctive form of linguistic and mathematical platonism, arguing that abstract objects are the proper subject matter of these disciplines.
Co-authored the Katz-Fodor semantic theory, a foundational framework in generative linguistics
Defended realist/platonist semantics in 'The Metaphysics of Meaning' (1990)
Advanced linguistic platonism in 'Realistic Rationalism' (1998)
Developed influential critiques of Quine's indeterminacy of translation
Held a distinguished professorship at the CUNY Graduate Center