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18 - Science, Mind, and Limits of Understanding

from Part III - Linguistics and Other Sciences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2018

By
Noam Chomsky
Edited by
Ángel J. Gallego  and
Roger Martin
Ángel J. Gallego
Affiliation:
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Roger Martin
Affiliation:
Yokohama National University, Japan
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Summary

This paper reflects on the nature of language in the context of the study of human cognition. Discussion starts with Descartes’ observation about the creative nature of language and goes through contributions made by several scientists concerned with our limitations to approach the challenging scientific inquiry of determining the innate components of our cognitive nature.
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Chapter
Information
Language, Syntax, and the Natural Sciences , pp. 351 - 362
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2018

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