Chomsky's Problem/Mystery Distinction

Collins, John (2021) Chomsky's Problem/Mystery Distinction. In: A Companion to Chomsky. Wiley, pp. 557-566. ISBN 978-1-119-59870-1

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Abstract

Noam Chomsky often appeals to the distinction between problems and mysteries. This chapter explains and evaluates Chomsky's remarks on these topics scattered throughout numerous texts. Next, it explains the p/m distinction via Chomsky's analogy of science with language. The chapter briefly discusses the topic of linguistic creativity. It focuses on the distinction itself, not what might fall under it. The chapter critically evaluates Chomsky's considerations in favor of the conception of the p/m distinction. A further suggestion from Chomsky is that convergence is a key signature of a science-forming faculty. Convergence on scientific theories requires explanation, for that there is convergence at all appears not to follow from the observational data, still less the socio-cultural facts of scientific practice.

Item Type: Book Section
Uncontrolled Keywords: analogy,convergence,linguistic creativity,noam chomsky,scientific theories,socio-cultural facts,arts and humanities(all),social sciences(all) ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1200
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Philosophy
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 09 Jun 2021 23:40
Last Modified: 07 Nov 2023 02:54
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/80234
DOI: 10.1002/9781119598732.ch36

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