(NEW YORK, NY) – Amnesty International USA was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the Hilary Putnam, a longtime supporter of the organization. Born in 1926, he dedicated his life to working toward the advancement of dignity and the betterment of humanity. A renowned author, philosopher, teacher and advocate, Putnam was a prolific force for progress in our world.
He served as Cogan University Professor Emeritus in the Department of Philosophy at Harvard University and a collection of his recent papers titled, “Philosophy in An Age of Science,” was published by Harvard University Press in 2012.
Putnam’s participation in the 1998 Oxford Amnesty Lectures is included in the compilation, “The Genetic Revolution and Human Rights.”
Upon hearing of Putnam’s passing, Board Chair Ann Burroughs issued the following statement:
“The Amnesty family sends its deepest condolences to the Putnam family. He was a champion for humanrights for as long as this organization has been around. Putnam embodied the kind of critical thinking that compels us to do the work we do, and motivates us to defend the rights of all human beings. Putnam will be sorely missed, but his contributions to the global human rights movement will live on.”