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Hilary Putnam

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Philosopher

The Resume

    (July 31, 1926-March 13, 2016)
    Wrote 'Reason, Truth, and History,' 'The Threefold Cord' and 'Realism with a Human Face'

Why he might be annoying:

    Yes, despite fact that his first name is 'Hilary,' he is a man.
    At least during one point in his career, he was an anti-realist and believed that if there is a reality beyond our perceptions, then we can never know it.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He grew up in Chicago, France, and Philadelphia.
    His work is considered to be some of the greatest analytic philosophy of the 20th century.
    Throughout his career, he came up with many interesting and readable taught experiments (i.e. an ant who traces the face of Winston Churchill in the sand, or Twin Earth where everything was the same except for the chemical composition of water).
    One such thought experiment, the brains in a vat scenario, was one of the main inspirations for the film, 'The Matrix.'
    He served as the President of the American Philosophical Association.
    His most famous quote is 'Meanings ain't in the head.'
    He was a fully tenured professor at Harvard who taught alongside of Robert Nozick, John Rawls, and Willard Van Orman Quine.

Credit: Nihilism Cynicism Sarcasm Orgasm


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 24 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 22 Votes: 59.09% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 33 Votes: 57.58% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 51 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 127 Votes: 66.14% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 167 Votes: 49.10% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 237 Votes: 47.26% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 512 Votes: 47.46% Annoying
    In 2002, Out of 200 Votes: 55.00% Annoying