Wiley-Blackwell Chomsky and His Critics (Philosophers and their Critics)

In this compelling volume, ten distinguished thinkers -- William G. Lycan, Galen Strawson, Jeffrey Poland, Georges Rey, Frances Egan, Paul Horwich, Peter Ludlow, Paul Pietroski, Alison Gopnik, and Ruth Millikan -- address a variety of conceptual issues raised in Noam Chomsky's work. Distinguished list of critics: William G. Lycan, Galen Strawson, Jeffrey Poland, Georges Rey, Frances Egan, Paul Horwich, Peter Ludlow, Paul Pietroski, Alison Gopnik, and Ruth Millikan. Includes Chomsky's substantial new replies and responses to each essay. The best critical introduction to Chomsky's thought as a whole. Review "When intellectual histories of the twentieth century are written, Noam Chomsky will surely be acknowledged as one of its major figures. Given his enormous influence, it is imperative that Chomsky's ideas be scrutinized, and I can't think of a better arena than this book, in which Chomsky and his critics are given the elbow room to work out their disagreements with the subtlety and depth that they deserve." Steven Pinker, MIT, and author of The Language Instinct <!--end--> "More than forty years ago, Noam Chomsky began a revolution in the way that philosophers think about the mind and about language. The essays in this fine volume make it clear that the Chomskian revolution is still very much underway and that we are far from agreement on the implications of Chomsky’s work. These cutting-edge essays – and Chomsky’s characteristically insightful replies – are full of fresh insights and acute arguments. They are essential reading for anyone interested in the extraordinary impact Chomsky has had on philosophy." Stephen Stich, Rutgers University "This is a first-rate volume for advanced students and scholars in philosophy, linguistics, and cognitive science that will advance understanding of Chomsky's work for years to come." Choice "This is a first-rate volume for advanced students and scholars in philosophy, linguistics, and cognitive science that will advance understanding of Chomsky's work for years to come." Choice, December 2003 From the Inside Flap In this compelling volume, ten distinguished thinkers – William G. Lycan, Jeffrey Poland, Galen Strawson, Frances Egan, Georges Rey, Peter Ludlow, Paul Horwich, Paul M. Pietroski, Alison Gopnik, and Ruth Garrett Millikan – address a variety of conceptual issues raised in Noam Chomsky's work on mind and language. Topics covered include: the ontological commitments inherent in a Chomskian approach to linguistic competence the possibility of systematic referential semantics for natural language whether we can learn anything about the foundations of language by adopting an evolutionary perspective whether the ‘theory theory’ in developmental psychology counters Chomsky's arguments for nativism the relevance and urgency of the mind–body problem in the post-Newtonian world. These analyses are followed by substantial responses from Chomsky himself. The result is a provocative and engaging discussion of Chomsky’s work on questions of central importance to theories of mind and language. From the Back Cover In this compelling volume, ten distinguished thinkers – William G. Lycan, Jeffrey Poland, Galen Strawson, Frances Egan, Georges Rey, Peter Ludlow, Paul Horwich, Paul M. Pietroski, Alison Gopnik, and Ruth Garrett Millikan – address a variety of conceptual issues raised in Noam Chomsky's work on mind and language. Topics covered include: the ontological commitments inherent in a Chomskian approach to linguistic competence the possibility of systematic referential semantics for natural language whether we can learn anything about the foundations of language by adopting an evolutionary perspective whether the ‘theory theory’ in developmental psychology counters Chomsky's arguments for nativism the relevance and urgency of the mind–body problem in the post-Newtonian world. These analyses are followed by substantial responses from C