[Xmca-l] Re: Chomsky, Vygotsky, and phenomenology

[Aria Razfar]

"Cartesian Linguistics" was written in 1966. I believe Chomsky used it as a
"metaphor" tracing the history of language studies since the Enlightenment.
He basically used it to argue that language studies (in the West at least)
suggests that some grammatical structures are fundamental properties of the
mind. In 1977, "Language and Responsibility" he argued against mind-body
dualism and this false binary of modern empiricism. While many of his
Chomsky's assertions about the nature language have been debunked, he played
an important historical role and his thoughts have continued to evolve.
Given the historicity of development, Chomsky has moved quite a bit since
the fifties and sixties. More recently, he has argued that "body" as fixed
and unchanging is as problematic as static notions of mind. He further
rejects the Cartesian concept of "body" citing "seventeenth century
Newtonian physics." So I'm not sure if I would characterize Chomsky as
Cartesian.  

Aria
  

Aria Razfar, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Literacy, Language, and Culture
Director of Graduate Studies, Curriculum and Instruction
University of Illinois at Chicago
1040 W. Harrison St. M/C 147
Chicago, IL, 60607

Director of English Learning through Mathematics, Science and Action
Research (ELMSA)
www.elmsa.org

Webpage: http://education.uic.edu/personnel/faculty/aria-razfar-phd
Tel: 312-413-8373
Fax: 312-996-8134


-----Original Message-----
From: xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu
[mailto:xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu] On Behalf Of Martin John Packer
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2014 12:39 PM
To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
Subject: [Xmca-l] Re: Chomsky, Vygotsky, and phenomenology

Chomsky wrote a book called 'Cartesian Linguistics.'

Husserl wrote one called 'Cartesian Meditations'!

Martin

On Dec 17, 2014, at 1:18 PM, Dr. Paul C. Mocombe <pmocombe@mocombeian.com>
wrote:

> Vera,
> 
> When you say chomsky is a Cartesian are you saying he is a rationalist in
the kantian camp?  Chomsky refers to himself and his efforts as kantian.  By
no means would i call kant a Cartesian.  I would call Husserl a Cartesian?
But not Kant and Chomsky. ..see the video below:
> 
> Watch "Noam Chomsky - Ideas of Chomsky BBC Interview (fu." on YouTube 
> Noam Chomsky - Ideas of Chomsky BBC Interview (fu.: 
> http://youtu.be/3LqUA7W9wfg
> 
> 
> Dr. Paul C. Mocombe
> President
> The Mocombeian Foundation, Inc.
> www.mocombeian.com
> www.readingroomcurriculum.com
> www.paulcmocombe.info
> 
> <div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Vera 
> John-Steiner <vygotsky@unm.edu> </div><div>Date:12/17/2014  12:53 PM  
> (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: "'eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity'" 
> <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu> </div><div>Subject: [Xmca-l] Re: Chomsky,
Vygotsky, and phenomenology </div><div> </div>While Chomsky is indeed very
influential his approach to language and its acquisition is opposite to that
of Vygotsky. He focuses on syntax while Vygotsky focuses on semantics.
> He proposes an innate language acquisition device while Vygotsky 
> approaches language developmentally. (I am repeating some of Carol's 
> points.) He is a Cartesian,while Vygotsky Opposed mind/body dualism. 
> And the list goes on.
> I don't think he can be integrated into CHAT.
> Vera
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu
> [mailto:xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu] On Behalf Of Carol Macdonald
> Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2014 7:37 AM
> To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
> Subject: [Xmca-l] Re: Chomsky, Vygotsky, and phenomenology
> 
> Do you think Chomsky knows he is? Howard Gardner is a very generous
fellow.
> 
> On 17 December 2014 at 16:28, Martin John Packer 
> <mpacker@uniandes.edu.co>
> wrote:
>> 
>> oh, I just read your second paragraph...
>> 
>> Howard Gardner lists Noam Chomsky as one of the "founders of 
>> cognitive science," along with Jerome Bruner, John McCarthy, George 
>> Miller, and Allen Newell (1985, p. 23).
>> 
>> Gardner, H. (1985). The mind's new science: A history of the 
>> cognitive revolution. New York: Basic Books.
>> 
>> Martin
>> 
>> On Dec 17, 2014, at 8:54 AM, Carol Macdonald <carolmacdon@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Well yes, and as linguistic and psychology student I was very proud 
>>> of
>> him
>>> for his review, it made me laugh and laugh.  But Chomsky never read
>> Piaget
>>> or Vygotsky.  He would have been interested in Vygotsky's 
>>> interpretation
>> of
>>> Behaviousrism.
>>> 
>>> As to cognitive psychology - well I suppose we should be pleased, 
>>> but Chomsky had no direct hand in that.
>>> 
>>> Carol.
>>> 
>>> On 17 December 2014 at 14:49, Martin John Packer <
>> mpacker@uniandes.edu.co>
>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Chomsky knew enough about psychology to write a devastating review 
>>>> of
> B.
>>>> F. Skinner's book 'Verbal behavior,' which still makes very 
>>>> interesting reading. And Chomsky's own book 'Syntactic Structures'
>>>> was one of the
>> key
>>>> components in the emergence of cognitive psychology in the late 
>>>> 1950s,
>> as
>>>> Howard Gardner's book makes clear.
>>>> 
>>>> Martin
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Carol A  Macdonald Ph D (Edin)
>>> Developmental psycholinguist
>>> Academic, Researcher,  and Editor
>>> Honorary Research Fellow: Department of Linguistics, Unisa
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
> --
> Carol A  Macdonald Ph D (Edin)
> Developmental psycholinguist
> Academic, Researcher,  and Editor
> Honorary Research Fellow: Department of Linguistics, Unisa
> 
>