CiNii 図書 - Educating Eve : the 'language instinct' debate

This is a study which poses questions about the nature of human mental development - does it depend on instinctive structures of thought, or can humans produce new ideas not based on biologically-fixed themes? This book discusses arguments by Steven Pinker, Noam Chomsky and others, in order to support the latter view. Steven Pinker's book "The Language Instinct" maintains that language is heard-wired in our genes. Others argue that this also holds for much of the specific knowledge and understanding expressed in language. When the first human Eve evolved from pre-human apes (it is claimed), her biological inheritance comprised not just a distinctive anatomy, but a rich structure of cognition. Sampson finds that these arguments, some depending on earlier contributions by writers such as Noam Chomsky, rest on false premises, or embody a logical fallacy. His theory is that what mankind inherits genetically is not specific structures of language and understanding, but a very general ability to produce new ideas in response to an unpredictable environment. We are born knowing nothing, but able to learn anything.

Culture or biology?
the original arguments for a language instinct
the debate is renewed
linguistic structure turns "Queen's Evidence"
the evidence for linguistic theories
a hermetic manuscript
biology and knowledge
creative evolution.

巻冊次: : pbk. ISBN 9780304702909

内容説明

Are we creatures who learn new things? Or does human mental development consist of awakening structures of thought? A view has gained ground - advocated, for example, by Steven Pinker's book "The Language Instinct" - that language in much of its detail is "hard-wired" in our genes. Others add that this holds too for much of the specific knowledge and understanding expressed in language. When the first human evolved from apes (it is claimed), her biological inheritance comprised not just a distinctive anatomy but a rich structure of cognition. This book examines the various arguments for instinctive knowledge, with the author arguing that each one rests on false premises or embodies a logical fallacy. A different picture of learning is suggested by Karl Popper's account of knowledge growing through "conjectures and refutations". The facts of human language are best explained, Sampson contends, by taking language acquisition to be a case of Popperian learning. In this way, we are not born know-alls; we are born knowing nothing but able to learn anything and this is why we can find ways to think and talk about a world that goes on changing.

Culture or biology?
the original arguments for a language instinct
the debate renewed
language structure turns Queen's evidence
the creative mind.

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Educating Eve : the 'language instinct' debate

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