Chomsky Ideas and Ideals

Noam Chomsky remains one of the most influential intellectual figures of modern times. His vast contributions to linguistics, psychology, philosophy, and politics have revolutionized our view of language, mind, and human nature. Assuming no prior knowledge of linguistics, this book explores Chomsky’s major theories, especially recent developments in his intellectual program, addressing such issues as: How do we know language? How do children acquire this knowledge? How did language evolve? This edition has been thoroughly expanded and updated, and includes an exploration of the author’s contributions to philosophy and psychology, while identifying the impact of his radical and often controversial views. It concludes with an account of his political activism and his critique of recent global developments such as the Arab Spring and WikiLeaks, with a new section covering his views on climate change and nuclear disarmament.