*Shane Glackin* (University of Exeter)
will speak at the History and Philosophy of Science Departmental Seminar
this Thursday, 13 February at 4.30pm
on *Two views of linguistic science and biology*
According to the view of Noam Chomsky and his followers, language as a
biological phenomenon is a property of individual minds and brains; its
status as a social phenomenon is merely epiphenomenal, and not a proper
object of scientific study. According to a rival view, the individual's
biological capacity for language cannot be properly understood in
isolation from the linguistic environment, which it both depends on for
its operation and -- in collaboration with other speakers -- builds and
shapes for future generations. I do not argue directly here for this
rival view, which revives and accords a central role to Saussure's
notion of langue, or public language. Rather, I demonstrate that it
accords far more easily than the Chomskyan view with several key
anti-individualistic themes in contemporary biological theory. Further,
I show, if the "neo-Saussurean" view is adopted, then two well-known
philosophical challenges to the Chomskyan account -- due to W.V. Quine
and Saul Kripke's Wittgenstein -- disappear.
Tea and biscuits will be available from 4pm in Seminar Room 1.
Following the talk we will go to the pub, and on to dinner. All are welcome!
--
Helen Anne Curry
Lecturer in History of Modern Science and Technology
Department of History and Philosophy of Science
University of Cambridge
Free School Lane
Cambridge CB2 3RH
01223 335748
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