“Reflections on Language” was published in 1975 and contains some of Chomsky’s most important work on the nature of language. In it, he argues that language is an innate human ability and that we are born with a “language acquisition device” (LAD) which enables us to learn language. He also presents his famous “theory of … Read more
In “Aspects of the Theory of Syntax,” published in 1965, Chomsky presents his famous distinction between deep structure and surface structure. Deep structure consists of the underlying meaning of a sentence, while surface structure is the actual form that the sentence takes. This book had a major impact on linguistics and cognitive science and helped … Read more
In Language and Mind, Chomsky argues that all human languages share a core set of grammatical rules. He also posits that language acquisition is largely determined by innate factors. The book had a major impact on linguistics, cognitive science, philosophy, and politics. The reason why this book had such a significant impact is because Chomsky … Read more
Noam Chomsky is one of the most influential thinkers of our time. His books have had a major impact on linguistics, cognitive science, philosophy, and politics. In this post, we will take a look at some of his most important works and what makes them so special. Language and Mind In Language and Mind, Chomsky … Read more
According to the Mayo Clinic, “An estimated 75 percent of Americans have foot pain at some point in their lives. Your feet are complex, containing 26 bones and more than 30 joints in each foot. All these bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments work together to enable you to walk, run and jump.” When any of … Read more
Many people consider Soren Kierkegaard to be one of the most important philosophers of the modern era. His work was groundbreaking in many ways, but perhaps his biggest contribution was his insight into the human condition. Kierkegaard believed that humans are fundamentally conflicted creatures. We are constantly pulled in two directions: towards the cozy comforts … Read more
In his book Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman warned about the dangers of being overloaded with too much useless information. With the advent of the Internet and 24-hour news cycles, it’s easy to see how his warning has come true. We are constantly bombarded with information, much of which is distractions from what’s really … Read more
Over the past century, psychology has become one of the most respected and widely-studied scientific disciplines. In recent years, psychologists have made groundbreaking strides in our understanding of human behavior, cognition, and emotion. While the field of psychology has come a long way, there is still much to learn. For example, psychologists are just beginning … Read more
The Greatest Words They Ever Said is a book of inspirational quotes from 14 topics. The topics include Fear, Truth, Time, Folly, Pain, Desire, Deceit, Work, Education, Happiness, Evil, Wisdom, Freedom, and Humor. This short inspirational book will be a great addition to any home or office and will serve as a constant reminder that … Read more
Friedrich Nietzsche’s “On the Genealogy of Morals” is, at its core, a genealogical study of the origins and evolution of human morals. In this work, Nietzsche examines the historical development of two opposite sets of morality—the “master” morality and the “slave” morality—and argues that the latter has come to dominate modern thought. How has slave … Read more