Language and Thought (Anshen Transdisciplinary Lectureships in Art, Science and the Philosophy of Culture, Monograph 3)

As a linguist, Noam Chomsky aims not only at making a technical contribution with his generative theory of language but also at integrating his linguistic theory into a wider view of the relationship between between language and the human mind. The crux of this view is the hypothesis that human beings are born with an innate knowledge of universal principles underlying the structure of human language. Chomsky's ideas have exerted a powerful influence on the other disciplines by restoring language to a central position in cognitive psychology and in the philosophy of the mind. The wider impact on his redefinition of the subject gives him a permanent place in the intellectual history of the twentieth century. "As a linguist, Noam Chomsky aims not only at making a technical contribution with his generative theory of language but also at integrating his linguistic theory into a wider view of the relationship between language and the human mind. The crux of this view is his hypothesis that human beings are born with an innate knowledge of universal principles underlying the structure of human language. Chomsky's ideas have exerted a powerful influence on other disciplines by restoring language to a central position in cognitive psychology and in the philosophy of mind. The wider impact of his redefinition of the subject gives him a permanent place in the intellectual history of the twentieth century. Central to Chomsky's analysis is the distinction he draws between linguistic competence (knowledge of the system of rules that govern language) and an individual's actual performance as a user of language. As Dr. Klor de Alva points out, "... Chomsky's sober text makes clear why an avoidance of dogmatism and reductionism, in the human and natural sciences - as in all things - and a well-founded recognition of the limits of cognition are not only methodologically useful but also conceptually necessary.""--Jaquette de livre "As a linguist, Noam Chomsky aims not only at making a technical contribution with his generative theory of language but also at integrating his linguistic theory into a wider view of the relationship between language and the human mind. The crux of this view is his hypothesis that human beings are born with an innate knowledge of universal principles underlying the structure of human language. Chomsky's ideas have exerted a powerful influence on other disciplines by restoring language to a central position in cognitive psychology and in the philosophy of mind. The wider impact of his redefinition of the subject gives him a permanent place in the intellectual history of the twentieth century. Central to Chomsky's analysis is the distinction he draws between linguistic competence (knowledge of the system of rules that govern language) and an individual's actual performance as a user of language. As Dr. Klor de Alva points out, ' ... Chomsky's sober text makes clear why an avoidance of dogmatism and reductionism, in the human and natural sciences--as in all things--and a well-founded recognition of the limits of cognition are not only methodologically useful but also conceptually necessary.'"--Jacket The Noted Linguist Explores The Relationship Between Language And The Human Mind, Discussing His Views On Man's Innate Knowledge Of The Universal Principles Underlying The Structure Of Human Language.