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Born in Chicago, IL
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(1967) Putnam culminates his introduction of classical computational theory of mind into philosophy in "The Nature of Mental States". Putnam posits that mental states are computational states of the brain (Ben-Menahem, Hilary Putnam 220). Essentially, the mind is a computer, powered by neural activity! Ben-Menahem, Yemima. Hilary Putnam. Cambridge UP, 2005.
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Putnam first introduces the Twin Earth thought experiment in his paper “Meaning and Reference”. This thought experiment assesses semantic externalism, which suggests that the meaning of our language relies on external facts (Ben-Menahem, Hilary Putnam 137). Ben-Menahem, Yemima. Hilary Putnam. Cambridge UP, 2005.
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Putnam formulates his own indispensability theory, based on the “no miracles” argument. This theory defends scientific realism, as he believed it was the only philosophy that doesn’t make the success of science a miracle (Ben-Menahem, Hilary Putnam 99). Ben-Menahem, Yemima. Hilary Putnam. Cambridge UP, 2005.
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Putnam begins his lifelong career at Harvard University, which he would later retire as Cogan University Professor Emeritus in 2000(Ben-Menahem, “Hilary Putnam | Biography, Realism, Functionalism, and Facts”). ---. “Hilary Putnam | Biography, Realism, Functionalism, and Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Dec. 2001, www.britannica.com/biography/Hilary-Putnam.
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Putnam writes “Reason, Truth, and History", and introduces the "Brain in a Vat" thought experiment. One is asked to consider if they were actually existing as a brain in a vat of liquid, and a scientist was introducing stimuli. This is considered to be a modern version of Rene Descartes’ evil demon thought experiment from Meditations.
Brain In A Vat -
Died in Arlington, MA