coffee & side tables
hilary putnam
this book offers an overview of putnams ideas his key writings and his contributions to the various fields of philosophy . thematically organized the book begins with putnams work in the philosophy of language and shows how his theory of semantic externalism serves as a lynchpin for understanding his thought as a whole . crucially the author also examines the ways in which putnam has shifted his position on some key philosophical issues and argues that there is in fact more unity to putnams thought than is widely believed . an entire chapter is devoted to putnams pragmatism and the possibilities this provides for revitalizing contemporary philosophy . this is the ideal companion to study of this hugely influential thinker .