Hilary Putnam

Date of Birth: July 31, 1926

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: March 13, 2016

Biography

Hilary Putnam was an American philosopher, mathematician, and computer scientist, renowned for his significant contributions to philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, philosophy of mathematics, and philosophy of science. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Putnam was the son of Samuel Putnam, a noted author and translator, and Riva Putnam. He pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania and later earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Harvard University under the supervision of Hans Reichenbach. Putnam’s early work was primarily in the philosophy of mathematics and logic, but he later made pivotal contributions to the philosophy of mind, particularly with his theory of functionalism, which asserts that mental states are defined by their functional roles rather than by their physical makeup. His “Twin Earth” thought experiment played a crucial role in discussions about meaning and reference in the philosophy of language. Throughout his career, Putnam was known for his intellectual versatility and his willingness to challenge and revise his own positions. He held professorships at several prestigious universities, including Northwestern, MIT, and Princeton, before settling at Harvard for the majority of his career. Putnam’s work earned him numerous accolades, including the Rolf Schock Prize in Logic and Philosophy.

5 Interesting Facts about Hilary Putnam

1. Hilary Putnam’s “Twin Earth” thought experiment is one of the most famous in contemporary philosophy.

2. He was a fierce critic of both logical positivism and skepticism.

3. Putnam became increasingly interested in Jewish philosophy and ethics later in his career.

4. He was a co-developer of the “Quine-Putnam indispensability argument” in the philosophy of mathematics.

5. Putnam was known for his dynamic approach to philosophy, often revising his views in light of new arguments and evidence.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hilary Putnam

1. “Meaning just ain’t in the head.”

2. “No sane person should believe that something is true simply because it is in print.”

3. “The idea that the mind is a computer program is patently ridiculous.”

4. “We must be able to criticize what we love, to say what we think, to be honest, or we are not free.”

5. “Philosophy is not a theory but an activity.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Hilary Putnam’s highest net worth is not publicly documented, as philosophers typically do not amass significant personal wealth from their academic work. However, his contributions to the field were invaluable.