The Science of Language: Interviews with James Mcgilvray Noam Chomsky Frontmatter More Information

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Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-01637-8 - The Science of Language: Interviews with James McGilvray Noam Chomsky Frontmatter More information

The Science of Language

Noam Chomsky is one of the most influential thinkers of our time, yet his views are often misunderstood. In this previously unpublished series of interviews, Chomsky discusses his iconoclastic and important ideas concern- ing language, human nature, and politics. In dialogue with James McGilvray, Professor of Philosophy at McGill University, Chomsky takes up a wide variety of topics – the nature of language, the philosophies of language and mind, morality and universality, science and common sense, and the evolution of language. McGilvray’s extensive commentary helps make this inci- sive set of interviews accessible to a variety of readers. The volume is essential reading for those involved in the study of language and mind, as well as anyone with an interest in Chomsky’s ideas.

noam chomsky is Institute Professor (retired) in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

james mcgilvray is Professor of Philosophy at McGill University, Montre´al.

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The Science of Language Interviews with James McGilvray

Noam Chomsky

cambridge university press Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, Sa˜o Paulo, Delhi, Mexico City Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK

Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York

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# Noam Chomsky and James McGilvray 2012

This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.

First published 2012

Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge

A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Chomsky, Noam. The science of language : interviews with James McGilvray / Noam Chomsky. p. cm. ISBN 978-1-107-01637-8 (Hardback) – ISBN 978-1-107-60240-3 (Paperback) 1. Chomsky, Noam–Interviews. 2. Chomsky, Noam–Philosophy. 3. Cognition and language. 4. Psycholinguistics. I. McGilvray, James. II. Title. P85.C47A3 2011 401–dc23 2011030292

ISBN 978-1-107-01637-8 Hardback ISBN 978-1-107-60240-3 Paperback

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Contents

Introduction page 1

Part I The science of language and mind 1 Language, function, communication: language and the use of language 11 2 On a formal theory of language and its accommodation to biology; the distinctive nature of human concepts 21 3 Representation and computation 31 4 More on human concepts 33 5 Reflections on the study of language 36 6 Parameters, canalization, innateness, Universal Grammar 39 7 Development, master/control genes, etc. 46 8 Perfection and design (interview 20 January 2009) 50 9 Universal Grammar and simplicity 59 10 On the intellectual ailments of some scientists 65 11 The place of language in the mind 69 12 Chomsky’s intellectual contributions 76 13 Simplicity and its role in Chomsky’s work 80 14 Chomsky and Nelson Goodman 86

Part II Human nature and its study 15 Chomsky on human nature and human understanding 95 16 Human nature and evolution: thoughts on sociobiology and evolutionary psychology 103

vi Contents

17 Human nature again 108 18 Morality and universalization 113 19 Optimism and grounds for it 118 20 Language, agency, common sense, and science 124 21 Philosophers and their roles 129 22 Biophysical limitations on understanding 132 23 Epistemology and biological limits 133 24 Studies of mind and behavior and their limitations 138 25 Linguistics and politics 152

Appendices

I I-concepts, I-beliefs, and I-language 153 II The several uses of “function” 157 III On what is distinctive about human nature (and how to deal with the distinction) 176 IV Chomsky on natural science 183 V Of concepts and misguided theories of them, and why human concepts are unique 186 VI Semantics and how to do it 206 VII Hierarchy, structure, domination, c-command, etc. 232 VIII Variation, parameters, and canalization 239 IX Simplicity 243 X Hume on the missing shade of blue and related matters 247 XI Syntax, semantics, pragmatics, non-Chomskyan and Chomskyan 250 XII An internalist picture of how concepts ‘work’ 255 Commentaries 262 Glossary 291 Bibliography 303 Index 313