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Noam Chomsky
This timeline will attempt to highlight only a few of the significant works produced by Noam Chomsky. Considering that Chomsky's publications number into the hundreds, it is extremely difficult to choose only a few to represent the culmination of such an accomplised author. However, understanding that Chomsky's roots are grounded in linguistics, it seems appropriate to focus on the works that were most significant in the field of linguistics and how they contributed to the philosophy of science. -
Published "Cartesian Linguistics: A Chapter in the History of Rationalist Thought”
When this book was initially released it was met with harsh criticism due to its critique of empiricist theories of linguistics and the mind. Along with philosophical links to the mind-body problem, Chomsky links the distinctive features of his rationalist-romantic concept to his personal views on politics and education. This contributes to the philosophy of science by enabling the reader to explore theories about linguistics and its links to society and the world at large. -
Published "Aspects of the Theory of Syntax"
This book highlights a divergent approach to the structure of language and sees an introduction to the linguistic theory that was pioneered by Noam Chomsky during his tenure at MIT. The book's contributions to the philosophy of science emanate from what is now known as “Standard Theory”. This theory is a significant contribution to the science of linguistics. For a comprehensive explanation of the standard theory, reference the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LSjoGVVWp4 -
Published "The Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory"
This book was written in 1955 during Chomsky's time at Harvard and was later partially published in 1975. This book introduces the principles of transformational generative grammar.
This piece contains principles that are fundamental in communication in the traditional sense, but especially important when communicating accurately in a scientific context.
For more on generative grammar, reference the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc2bL1z9Wh4 -
Published “New Horizons in the Study of Language and Mind”
In this book, Chomsky tackles traditional philosophical challenges by providing new solutions related to the study of language and its links to the mind. The book's philosophical study of language and the mind provide the reader with exposure to the mind-body problem and well as the unification of science. Chomsky also argues that human language is observed and analyzed using scientific methodology. -
Published "Syntactic Structures"
This is Chomsky's first book focusing on syntactic structures. Here, Chomsky tries to develop a theory of language within the construct of the traditional scientific theory. This novel approach to providing a scientific understanding of language is both revolutionary, as it provides a more scientific definition of language, and also critical, in that it challenges prior philosophical ideologies around the ways that language is defined. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsMbQvVQAqQ -
Published "On Language"
This book actually includes two of Chomsky’s most popular publications: “Language and Responsibility,” published originally in 1979, and “Reflections on Language,” published originally in 1975. In "Language and Responsibility," Chomsky expands on his own thoughts around moral, political and linguistic thoughts. In "Reflections on Language," Chomsky expands on the controversies surrounding the study of language as it pertains to psychologists, philosophers, and linguists.