Die Bedeutung von 'Bedeutung'

Putnam's "Philosophizing" can be seen as an attempt to develop a comprehensive counter-position to the extensive stance of logical empiricism. In response to the empiricists' inability to formulate a theory-independent concept of truth, Putnam presents a realistic viewpoint: "In my opinion, scientific statements are either true or false, and their truth and falsity do not arise from being highly sublimated representations of regularities in human experience. Reality is not part of the human mind; rather, the human mind is part of reality, indeed a tiny part." In the essay translated here, "The Meaning of Meaning," first published in 1975, Hilary Putnam presents the foundations of his reflections on the philosophy of language in the most detailed and accessible, non-technical form. Therefore, this essay is also recommended for those who are still in the process of familiarizing themselves with the philosophy of language.