Hilary Putnams Philosophical Naturalism

Hilary Putnams Philosophical Naturalism: Making Philosophy Matter for Life emphasizes both the nature of Hilary Putnams link to the Neopositivist tradition and his progressive critical departure from it. Massimo DellUtri argues that one of the main senses of this departure resides in implicitly revealing that there is no opposition between philosophy concerned with hard technical questions and philosophy concerned with how to live. It is this innovative combination that made Putnam offer what is widely regarded as the most sensible interpretation of philosophical naturalism ever articulated. From the latter comes a multilevel image of reality, the realization of which required a lifelong reflection not only on science and its importance, but also on mathematics, knowledge, mind, truth, religion, morality, and more. This variegated reflection provides insight into how, despite shifts in opinion, Putnams thought reveals strong continuities and a systematic backbone issues of central philosophical importance.