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Multiple realizability
In early 1960, Putnam published a number of papers covering his position on "pain" as a mental state. His argument that pain, as a mental state, is caused by different physical states in different creatures, and affects them all differently. He argued that even artificially intelligent lifeforms could experience pain in this matter. -
Brain in a Vat
Putnam devised his "brain in a vat" experiment; which was a play off of Descartes's Demon experiment. In this experiment, the idea is that in an individual is made up of a disembodied brain that is fed information and imagery through connected wires, that said individual cannot truly know anything. Everything is given from another's perspective or experience and there is no confirmation. This contributed to his scientific community in some way shape or form. -
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Metaphysical Realism
Continuing on his arguments of meaning, Putnam abandoned his defense of metaphysical realism in favor of what he called internal realism. With the former holding that the world is both casually and ontologically independent from the human mind; while the latter holds that the world is only casually independent. This philosophy later went on to influence philosophers Kant, and Goodman. -
Philosophy of language
In 1973 Putnam argued the status of words and their respective meaning. By using an example with two identical earths, called "Twin Earths", Putnam highlights that two identical words cannot hold their meaning outside of the mind, when they hold separate meanings. This calls to question the meaning of all language in philosophy. -
Works Cited
Wikipedia Encyclopedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilary_Putnam
