Universal Grammar

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There remains much disagreement about the basis for language and its acquisition by humans. Ludwig Wittgenstein and Noam Chomsky were both influential figures in the field of philosophy of language and linguistics.

  1. Wittgenstein's Later Work
    1. Wittgenstein's later work, especially as described in his book, Philosophical Investigations[1], focused on language and its use.
    2. He warned against mentalistic temptations and criticized his own earlier formal account of language in the *Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus.
    3. Wittgenstein emphasized the importance of understanding language in terms of its practical use and context.
  2. Chomsky's Critique of Wittgenstein[2]
    1. In 1969, Chomsky reviewed some of Wittgenstein's later work and scored it almost as severely as he had B.F. Skinner's behaviorist perspective a decade earlier.
    2. Chomsky criticized what he perceived as Wittgenstein's "empiricist speculation."
    3. He misread some passages in Wittgenstein's works, but his main criticisms were rooted in their fundamental differences regarding mentalism.
  3. *Mentalistic vs. Anti-Mentalistic Perspectives
    1. Chomsky's approach is mentalistic, emphasizing internal cognitive processes and innate structures (such as Universal Grammar).[3]
    2. Wittgenstein, on the other hand, took an anti-mentalistic stance, focusing on language as a social practice and rejecting mentalistic explanations.
    3. Chomsky accused Wittgenstein of neglecting the mental essence of cognitive activities and failing to consider unconscious thought processes.
  4. Wittgenstein's Influence on Linguistics
    1. Despite their differences, Wittgenstein's work can be used to critique some of Chomsky's views.
    2. Wittgenstein's emphasis on practical language use aligns with modern sociolinguistics and pragmatics.
    3. His ideas continue to shape discussions about language behavior and meaning.
Chomsky's and Wittgenstein's interactions highlight the ongoing debate between mentalistic and anti-mentalistic approaches in understanding language.[4]
  1. ↑ Ludwig Wittgenstein, PHILOSOPHICAL INVESTIGATIONS Translated by G. E. M. ANSCOMBE First published 1953 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54889e73e4b0a2c1f9891289/t/564b61a4e4b04eca59c4d232/1447780772744/Ludwig.Wittgenstein.-.Philosophical.Investigations.pdf
  2. ↑ Chomsky's Criticism of Kripke's Wittgenstein - Deusto. https://paginaspersonales.deusto.es/abaitua/konzeptu/nlp/kripke.htm.
  3. ↑ Universal Grammar: Wittgenstein Versus Chomsky SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-3136-6_38
  4. ↑ Chomsky, Wittgenstein, and the Behaviorist Perspective on Language - JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27758883
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