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Name:
Avram Noam Chomsky
Dates:
Born: December 7, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died: n/a
Biography:
Avram Noam Chomsky is a Harvard linguist whose work has single-handedly
revolutionized the field of linguistics. According to Chomsky, a person can
create an infinite number of possible sentences in their native tongue, and this
means that whatever grammar underlies that language, it must be
generative, thus allowing them to generate new sentences, never
before encountered, from basic rules. This grammar must also be
transformational, because it allows any statement to be transformed
into some other form - for example, from present into past tense.
Chomsky's work has also had wider implications for general philosophy. Chomsky has been able to show that children acquire way too much language ability way too fast to be able to explain it by saying that they simply imitate adults. Instead, Chomsky argues, everyone is born with some sort of "universal grammar" in their brains - basic rules which are similar across all languages.
After exposure to their native language, their brain tosses aside the unnecessary rules, adjusts the necessary ones, and begins to apply those rules to the current situation. Acceptance of this position requires a rejection of strict empiricism, which would argue that all knowledge comes from experience and no knowledge is innate. Instead, Chomsky's theories support a more rationalist position, arguing that we are born with some of our concepts already in our brains.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
Biographies of Philosophers
This index of biographical index of famous philosophers throughout history includes many others who have contributed to our understanding of human nature and life - including sociologists, psychologists, scientists, and more.What is Philosophy?
What is philosophy? Is there any point in studying philosophy, or is it a useless subject? What are the different branches of philosophy - what's the difference between aestheitcs and ethics? What's the difference between metaphysics and epistemology?
