Philosophy as Dialogue

Hilary Putnam's Philosophy as Dialogue is a collection of stimulating, incisive responses to varied and eminent thinkers, showcasing his ideas as they evolved. It includes discussions on language, logic, realism, pragmatism, skepticism, moral philosophy, politics, and religion, with contributions from Martha Nussbaum, Jürgen Habermas, and others. The book also presents Putnam's personal and largely unknown writing on philosophical method, revealing the influence of W. V. Quine, Michael Dummett, and Stanley Cavell.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 18 October 2022
Publisher: Harvard University Press

Hilary Putnam (1926–2016) was a renowned philosopher known for his dynamic and thought-provoking contributions to the field. Over the course of his illustrious career, Putnam's philosophical positions evolved, reflecting his engagement with a wide range of eminent thinkers. This remarkable collection of essays, the first of its kind, showcases the evolution of Putnam's ideas as he grappled with the ideas of his contemporaries. Divided into five thematic sections, "Philosophy as Dialogue" begins with an exploration of language and formal logic, tracing Putnam's responses to the arguments of Wilfrid Sellars, Noam Chomsky, Charles Travis, and Tyler Burge. The book then brings together Putnam's responses to realists and antirealists, philosophers of science and perception, followed by forays into pragmatism and skepticism. While Putnam's primary focus was on logic, mathematics, and the philosophy of mind, he also delved into issues in moral philosophy, politics, and religion. In this collection, readers are treated to engaging conversations with giants of these fields, including Martha Nussbaum, Jürgen Habermas, Elizabeth Anscombe, Cora Diamond, Richard Rorty, and Franz Rosenzweig. Furthermore, "Philosophy as Dialogue" presents Putnam's deeply personal and largely unknown writing on philosophical method, which reveals the influence of W. V. Quine, Michael Dummett, and Stanley Cavell on his work. Once again, Mario De Caro and David Macarthur have presented and introduced a carefully selected collection of Hilary Putnam's writings that will redefine our understanding of this influential philosopher. Most importantly, these thirty-six replies and responses to his contemporaries showcase the extraordinary breadth and depth of Putnam's work, as well as his remarkable capacity to engage deeply with seemingly disparate philosophical traditions.

Weight: 678g
Dimension: 165 x 244 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674281356