Pronunciation: [ɹˈuːθ mˈɪlɪkən] (IPA) 
The correct spelling of "Ruth Millikan" is /ruːθ mɪlɪkən/. The first name is pronounced with a long "oo" sound as in "moon" followed by a "th" sound, while the last name is pronounced with a short "i" sound as in "sit", a soft "l" sound, and a stress on the second syllable. Millikan is the last name of the American philosopher Ruth Garrett Millikan, who is known for her work in philosophy of biology and cognitive science.
Ruth Millikan is an American philosopher of language and mind who has made significant contributions to the fields of philosophy, cognitive science, and biology. Born in 1933, Millikan attended Wellesley College and obtained her Ph.D. in philosophy from Yale University in 1965. She is widely known for her groundbreaking work in teleosemantics and naturalizing intentionality.
In Millikan's philosophy, teleosemantics refers to her theory of meaning, which explores the relationship between the meaning of mental representations and their biological functions. According to Millikan, meaning arises from the way in which mental representations contribute to an organism's successful interaction with its environment. She argues that mental representations have meaning in virtue of their biological functions rather than being arbitrary or conventional symbols.
Moreover, Millikan's work in naturalizing intentionality aims to explain the intentionality of mental states using principles derived from biology, specifically evolution and natural selection. She rejects the idea that intentionality is a disembodied or purely mental phenomenon, instead claiming that it can be understood in terms of the naturalistic processes that shaped the evolution of organisms.
Millikan's ideas have had a profound impact on philosophy, cognitive science, and biology, influencing the study of language, perception, consciousness, and the nature of mental representation. Her work seeks to bridge the gap between philosophical theory and empirical research, providing insights into the complex relationship between the mind and the natural world.
The word "Ruth Millikan" does not have an etymology, as it is a proper noun that refers to an individual, specifically the philosopher Ruth Garrett Millikan. Etymology refers to the study of the origin and historical development of words, but in this case, "Ruth Millikan" is a combination of a first name "Ruth" and a last name "Millikan", which are not derived from any particular word or language.
