Linguistics and Epistemology
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Description
There is some reason to believe that Chomsky’s views about the innate contribution to language-acquisition have a bearing on epistemological issues: on disputes over the existence of a priori knowledge, for example. Certainly if he is right, grammar provides a striking example of strong innate constraints on the form of human thought, and a natural object of philosophical fascination. I do not propose to discuss the correctness of Chomsky’s view concerning the importance and size of that innate contribution, or the adequacy of the support offered for it. The object of this paper is to investigate what epistemological consequences Chomsky’s empirical hypotheses about language-learning have, if they are correct. The discussion will divide into two parts. First, I shall consider how Chomsky’s hypotheses are most appropriately formulated, and specifically how the concept of knowledge can enter into their formulation. Second, I shall consider the bearing of these hypotheses on the epistemological status of our knowledge of natural languages, and also what they suggest about other kinds of knowledge, particularly those sometimes thought to be a priori.
Source Publication
Language and Philosophy: A Symposium
Source Editors/Authors
Sidney Hook
Publication Date
1969
Recommended Citation
Nagel, Thomas, "Linguistics and Epistemology" (1969). Faculty Chapters. 1325.
https://gretchen.law.nyu.edu/fac-chapt/1325
