The Twin Earth Thought Experiment

The Twin Earth thought experiment, proposed by philosopher Hilary Putnam, explores how meaning can vary depending on context. Imagine a planet, identical to Earth, where a liquid called "water" exists, but it's chemically different (let's say it's XYZ). If you visit Twin Earth and say "water," you mean XYZ. This raises questions about meanings: Is "water" the same on both planets? It highlights how understanding language and concepts can depend on external factors, such as the environment, suggesting that words carry meanings shaped by our experiences and the substances they refer to, rather than being fixed definitions.