Realism with a Human Face

In this book, one of America's great philosophers calls upon his peers to embed philosophy in social life. Connecting metaphysics to cultural and literary issues, Putnam argues that the collapse of philosophical realism does not entail a fall into the abyss of relativism and postmodern skepticism.

Auteur
Hilary Putnam was Cogan University Professor, Emeritus, at Harvard University. James Conant is Chester D. Tripp Professor of Humanities at the University of Chicago.

Texte du rabat
skepticism. It is aimed primarily at philosophers but should appeal to a wide range of humanists and social scientists.

Résumé
One of America's great philosophers says the time has come to reform philosophy. Putnam calls upon philosophers to attend to the gap between the present condition of their subject and the human aspirations that philosophy should and once did claim to represent. His goal is to embed philosophy in social life.

Contenu
Part 1 metaphysics: realism with a human face - realism; relativism; a defense of internal realism; after empiricism; is water necessarily H2O?; is the causal structure of the physical itself something physical?; truth and convention; why is a philosopher?; the craving for objectivity. Part 2 Ethics and aesthetics: beyond the fact/value dichotomy; the place of facts in a world of values; objectivity and the science/ethics distinction; how not to solve ethical problems; taking rules seriously; scientific liberty and scientific license; is there a fact of the matter about fiction?. Part 3 Studies in American philosophy: William James' ideas, (with Ruth Anna Putnam); James's theory of perception; Peirce the logician; the way the world is; the greatest logical positivist; meaning holism; Nelson Goodman's "Fact Fiction and Forecast".