The Study Of Hilary Putnam's Realistic Thought

In philosophy of science, the realist and anti-realist discussed fiercely about whether the knowledge of science is real, and the problem, including whether the scientific theory are true and how the words refer to, connected with the discussion about the mean of words.The development of Putnam's thought has three stages: scientific realism, internal realism and natural realism. His internal realism is always seen as a kind of anti-realism, so by analyzing the change of Putnam'thought, we can comprehend the debate in philosophy of science on the whole.Putnam understands the faults existed in metaphysical-realism deeply, and he also knows the contradiction of anti-realism. He tries to find a way to transcend the confliction between them. The internal realism that he developed was lost to the goal.This paper brings out the development progress of Putnam's realistic thought systematically and points out the important role that the models theory plays. And I have an opposition to his critic to the sense data theory of perception. The paper divided into three parts. In the first part, I show how his earlier model-theory influences his change in mind, and it is the main reason that leads him to criticize the mete-realism. In the second part, I illustrate Putnam's internal realism in detail, and analyze the two horns he goes logically. His thought in medium stage sways between the anti-realism that he doesn't appreciate and the metaphysical-realism that he criticizes. In the last part, I describe briefly Putnam's latest natural realism. I gave my own view to his opposition to the sense data theory in perception. I described the basic point of view of natural realism and point out that common sense doesn't refuse to talk about cognition in a way of construction.