Chomsky : language, mind, and politics / James McGilvray.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McGilvray, James A. (James Alasdair), 1942- author.

Series:

Key contemporary thinkers (Cambridge, England)

Key contemporary thinkers

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Chomsky, Noam--Philosophy.

Chomsky, Noam.

Philosophy of mind.

Linguistics.

Philosophy.

Physical Description:

vii, 262 pages ; 24 cm.

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Polity, [2014]

Summary:

Noam Chomsky is best known for his work on two apparently separate problems -the scientific problem of how to construct a science of mind, especially a science of language, and the practical problem of how to construct a justifiable and fair political system. In this thoroughly revised and updated introduction, James McGilvray argues that Chomsky's intellectual efforts form a unified whole, linked through a natural science of human nature. McGilvray emphasizes and explains the reasons for Chomsky's distinction between common sense and science, and his distinction between rationalism and empiricism. He explains why Chomsky rejects empiricist approaches to the study of language, and why he doubts that there can be a natural science of human behavior and action, making clear why Chomsky holds that humans have free will and are autonomous individuals. This edition has been extensively rewritten to account for Chomsky's recent work, showing how and why he has succeeded in 'biologizing' the study of language and mind and - by implication - the study of human nature. The book will be of value to students and scholars of philosophy, linguistics, and politics, as well as to all those interested in understanding the work of one of today's most controversial and important intellectuals. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chomsky's contributions

The mind and its sciences

Partitioning the mind : bad and good cognitive sciences

Human problem-solving capacities

The science of language

Linguistic meanings and their uses

Chomsky on politics : some basic themes

Language and politics : justification.

Notes:

Previous edition: 1999.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [245]-253) and index.

ISBN:

9780745649894

0745649890

9780745649900

0745649904

OCLC:

853505929