Exemplifying an Internal Realist Model of Truth.

Abstract

From early on, Hilary Putnam's efforts reflected a deeply foundational result, the Lowenheim-Skolem theorem, that formalized the central intuition that governed much of his thinking. This metamathematical result supports the indeterminacy of the reference relation between theories and their models. 1 As this intuition, captured in many ways, was used to support his many and varied philosophical interests, his concern with formal languages and formal models of, particularly, scientific theories and explanations decreased. 2 In place of metamathematics, Putnam offered various informal and quasi-formal arguments and constructions showing the limits of logical models as a challenge to, among other things, metaphysical realIsm. This yielded his notion of internal realism. 3