Putnam, Hilary (1926–)

Abstract

American philosopher, Hilary Whitehall Putnam (1926–) is one of the most influential analytic philosophers of our time. He is particularly well known for his contributions to philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of language. His work is also marked by a critical engagement with his own earlier views and several changes of key philosophical positions. This article distinguishes between early, middle, and late periods in Putnam's writing and discusses the most seminal ideas of each period. Particular attention is paid to Putnam's treatment of the question of realism over the three periods.