Language and Problems of Knowledge: The Managua Lectures (Current Studies in Linguistics)
In these "somewhat extended versions" of lectures originally delivered in Nicaragua in 1986, Chomsky gives the nonspecialist his most accessible statement yet of his thinking on language and knowledge. Chomsky is not afraid to tackle some of the main problems of philosophy, for example, "Plato's problem" of how knowledge is possible. His approach is unique, grounded throughout in linguistic analyses (here, mostly of parallel constructs in Spanish and English). As a result of these analyses Chomsky concludes that our ability to know, to understand, and to use language must be innate, "a part of our biological endowment." Stimulating, though professional philosophers will likely denigrate the approach. Leon H. Brody, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Lib., Washington, D.C.Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.