Rules and Representations (Columbia Classics in Philosophy) (Paperback)

by Noam Chomsky (Author) "IN THESE LECTURES, I would like to explore a number of issues relating to human cognitive capacities and the mental structures that serve as the..." (more)
Key Phrases: bifurcation thesis, museum myth, language faculty, Eric Lenneberg, Moby Dick (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"From time to time ever since Plato, grammar has been more than the bane of school children or a topic for scholars. It owes its present prominence outside of linguistics to some theses stated... by Noam Chomsky." -- Ian Hacking, New York Review of Books

"Judged in terms of the power, range, novelty and influence of his thought, Noam Chomsky is arguably the most important intellectual alive today... reading Chomsky on linguistics one repeatedly has the impression of attending to one of the more powerful thinkers that ever lived." -- Paul Robinson, New York Times Book Review

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

As Norbert Hornstein writes in his foreword, "it underestimates Chomsky's impact in linguistics, philosophy, and psychology to describe it as immense." In Rules and Representations, Noam Chomsky lays out many of the concepts that have made his approach to linguistics and human cognition so instrumental to our understanding of language.

In this influential and controversial work Chomsky draws on philosophy, biology, and the study of the mind to consider the nature of human cognitive capacities, particularly as they are expressed in language. He arrives at his well-known position that there is a universal grammar, genetically determined, structured in the human mind, and common to all human languages. Aside from his examination of the various principles of the universal grammar -- its "rules and representations" -- Chomsky considers the biological basis of language capabilities and the possibility of studying mental structures and capacities in the manner of the natural sciences. Finally, he also explores whether there may be similar "grammars" of perception, art, human nature, scientific reasoning, and the unconscious.

Based on Chomsky's lively 1978 Woodbridge Lectures, this edition, first published in 1980, contains revised versions of the original lectures and two new essays. It also includes an extensive foreword by Norbert Hornstein, discussing Chomsky's ideas and their wide-ranging impact.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 299 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (October 15, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231048270
• ISBN-13: 978-0231048279
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,467,066 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Overview, April 19, 2006

By	Eran Asoulin (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This book is an excellent overview of Chomsky's Linguistics. Perfect for people who are interested in such issues as Generative Grammar and the biological basis of langauge. It is not as technical as Chomsky's other linguistics books, which makes it an excellent starting point for those who are new to this field. It assumes very little background knowledge and is thus palatable for a wider audience.