Explanatory Account of the Human Language Faculty: The Developmentalist Challenge and Biolinguistics

Ana Lipij

doi:10.2298/FID2401081L

Authors

Ana Lipij Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2298/FID2401081L

Keywords:

language faculty, the nature-nurture divide, the developmentalist challenge, Piaget- Chomsky debate, biolinguistics

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore whether Maria Kronfeldner’s analysis of human nature could be applied to the concept of cognitive systems and related capabilities, such as the human language faculty. Firstly, I will address the nature-nurture debate, that is, explanatory claims of nature as having a role in causing the language ability, and explanatory claims of culture as responsible for the development of human language capabilities. The nature-nurture divide generates a problem since it overlooks the interaction of nature and culture during the development of language capabilities, the problem called the developmentalist challenge. I will demonstrate different standpoints that try to answer this challenge, most famously the constructivist theory of Jean Piaget and the theory of universal grammar of Noam Chomsky. Following the insights of Kronfeldner, if we opt for an explanatory (and not classificatory or descriptive) account of the human language, we will search for the explanatory epistemic roles and their fulfilments. As Kronfeldner states, different sciences search for different differences regarding explanandum, and I hope to show that the integrative interdisciplinary framework dealing with cognitive systems is needed. The conclusion is that biolinguistics is an interdisciplinary field with a necessary unifying potential regarding explanatory account of the human language faculty.

References

Abrahamsen, Adele, and William Bechtel. 2006. “Phenomena and Mechanisms: Putting the Symbolic, Connectionist, and Dynamical Systems Debate in Broader Perspective.” In: Stainton, Robert, ed. Contemporary Debates in Cognitive Science. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

Barkow, Jerome H, Leda Cosmides, and John Tooby. 1992. The Adapted Mind: Evolutionary Psychology and the Generation of Culture. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Boeckx, Cedric. 2014. “The Roots of Current Biolinguistic Thought: Revisiting the ‘Chomsky-Piaget Debate’ in the Context of the Revival of Biolinguistic.” Teorema XXXIII/1: 83–94.

Chalmers, David. 2010. The Character of Consciousness. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Chomsky, Noam. 1965. Aspects of the Theory of Syntax. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

–. 1980. Rules and Representations. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

–. 2000. New Horizons in the Study of Language and Mind. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

–. 2007. “On Minds and Language.” Biolinguistics 1: 9–27.

–. 2010. “Some Simple Evo Devo Theses: How True Might They Be for Language?” In: Larson, Richard, Viviane Déprez, and Hiroko Yamakido, eds. The Evolution of Human Language: Biolinguistics Perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Clark, Andy, and David Chalmers. 2008. “Appendix: The Extended Mind.” In: Clark, Andy, ed., Supersizing the Mind: Embodiment, Action, and Cognitive Extension. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Cummins, Robert. 2000. “‘How does it Work?’ vs. ‘What are the Laws?’: Two Conceptions of Psychological Explanation.” In: Keil, Frank, and Robert Wilson, eds. Explanation and Cognition. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, pp.: 117–145.

Di Sciullo, Anna Maria, and Lyke Jenkins. 2016. “Biolinguistics and the Human Language Faculty.” Language 92 (3): 205–236.

Fodor, Jerry. 1997. "Special Sciences: Still Autonomous after All these Years". Noûs 31 (s11): 149–163.

Grandy, Richard E., and Max A. Freund. 2023. “Sortals.” In: Zalta, Edward N., and Uri Nodelman, eds. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. URL: https:// plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2023/entries/sortals/ (last accessed: October 27, 2023).

Herrnstein Smith, Barbara. 2001. “Sewing Up the Mind: The Claims from Evolutionary Psychology.” In: Rose, Hillary, and Steven Rose, eds. Alas, Poor Darwin. London: Vintage.

Horkheimer, Max, and Theodor W. Adorno. 2002. Dialectic of Enlightenment: Philosophical Fragments. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Jackson, Phillip. 1982. “Epiphenomenal Qualia.” The Philosophical Quarterly 32 (127): 127–136.

Jenkins, Lyle. 2000. Biolinguistics: Exploring the Biology of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Karmiloff-Smith, Annette. 2001. “Why Babies’ Brains Are Not Swiss Army Knives.” In: Rose, Hillary, and Steven Rose, eds. Alas, Poor Darwin. London: Vintage.

Keller, Evelyn Fox. 2010. The Mirage of a Space between Nature and Nurture. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

Kronfeldner, Maria. 2018. What’s Left of Human Nature? A Post-Essentialist, Pluralist and Interactive Account of a Contested Concept. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

Latour, Bruno. 1993. We Have Never Been Modern. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Levine, Joseph. 1983. “Materialism and Qualia: The Explanatory Gap.” Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 64 (4): 354–361.

Lewontin, Richard C., Steven Rose, and Leon J. Kamin. 1984. Not in Our Genes: Biology, Ideology and Human Nature. New York, NY: Pantheon Books.

Marras, Ausonio. 1983. “Critical Notice: Review of Language and Learning: The Debate between Jean Piaget and Noam Chomsky, by M. Piattelli-Palmarini.” Canadian Journal of Philosophy 13 (2): 277–291.

Miller, George A., and Elizabeth Lenneberg, eds. 1978. Psychology and Biology of Language and Thought, Essays in Honor of Eric Lenneberg. New York, NY: Academic Press.

Nagel, Thomas. 1974. “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?” The Philosophical Review 83 (4): 435–450.

Neurath, Otto. 1931. “Physicalism: The Philosophy of the Viennese Circle.” The Monist 41 (4): 618–623.

Oller, D. Kimbrough. 2008. “Noam Chomsky’s Role in Biological Theory: A Mixed Legacy.” Biological Theory 3 (4): 344–350.

Peirce, Charles Sanders. 1891. “James’s Psychology-II.” The Nation 53 (1358): 32–33.

Piatelli-Palmarini, Massimo. 1994. “Ever Since Language and Learning: Afterthoughts on the Piaget-Chomsky Debate.” Cognition 50: 315–346.

Di Sciullo, Anna Maria, and Lyke Jenkins. 2016. “Biolinguistics and the Human Language Faculty.” Language 92 (3): 205–236.

Fodor, Jerry. 1997. "Special Sciences: Still Autonomous after All these Years". Noûs 31

(s11): 149–163.

Grandy, Richard E., and Max A. Freund. 2023. “Sortals.” In: Zalta, Edward N., and Uri Nodelman, eds. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. URL: https:// plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2023/entries/sortals/ (last accessed: October 27, 2023).

Herrnstein Smith, Barbara. 2001. “Sewing Up the Mind: The Claims from Evolutionary Psychology.” In: Rose, Hillary, and Steven Rose, eds. Alas, Poor Darwin. London: Vintage.

Horkheimer, Max, and Theodor W. Adorno. 2002. Dialectic of Enlightenment: Philosophical Fragments. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Jackson, Phillip. 1982. “Epiphenomenal Qualia.” The Philosophical Quarterly 32 (127): 127–136.

Jenkins, Lyle. 2000. Biolinguistics: Exploring the Biology of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Karmiloff-Smith, Annette. 2001. “Why Babies’ Brains Are Not Swiss Army Knives.” In: Rose, Hillary, and Steven Rose, eds. Alas, Poor Darwin. London: Vintage.

Keller, Evelyn Fox. 2010. The Mirage of a Space between Nature and Nurture.

Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

Kronfeldner, Maria. 2018. What’s Left of Human Nature? A Post-Essentialist, Pluralist and Interactive Account of a Contested Concept. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

Latour, Bruno. 1993. We Have Never Been Modern. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Levine, Joseph. 1983. “Materialism and Qualia: The Explanatory Gap.” Pacific

Philosophical Quarterly 64 (4): 354–361.

Lewontin, Richard C., Steven Rose, and Leon J. Kamin. 1984. Not in Our Genes: Biology, Ideology and Human Nature. New York, NY: Pantheon Books.

Marras, Ausonio. 1983. “Critical Notice: Review of Language and Learning: The Debate between Jean Piaget and Noam Chomsky, by M. Piattelli-Palmarini.” Canadian Journal of Philosophy 13 (2): 277–291.

Miller, George A., and Elizabeth Lenneberg, eds. 1978. Psychology and Biology of Language and Thought, Essays in Honor of Eric Lenneberg. New York, NY: Academic Press.

Nagel, Thomas. 1974. “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?” The Philosophical Review 83 (4): 435–450.

Neurath, Otto. 1931. “Physicalism: The Philosophy of the Viennese Circle.”

The Monist 41 (4): 618–623.

Oller, D. Kimbrough. 2008. “Noam Chomsky’s Role in Biological Theory: A Mixed Legacy.” Biological Theory 3 (4): 344–350.

Peirce, Charles Sanders. 1891. “James’s Psychology-II.” The Nation 53 (1358): 32–33.

Piatelli-Palmarini, Massimo. 1994. “Ever Since Language and Learning: Afterthoughts on the Piaget-Chomsky Debate.” Cognition 50: 315–346.

–. 2001. “Portrait of a ‘Classical’ Cognitive Scientist: What I Have Learned From Jacques Mehler.” In: Dupoux, Emmanuel, ed. Language, Brain and Cognitive Development: Essays in Honor of Jacques Mehler. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press: 3–21.

Piccinini, Gualtiero, and Carl Craver. 2011. “Integrating Psychology and Neuroscience: Functional Analyses as Mechanism Sketches.” Synthese 183: 283–311.

Pietroski, Paul, and Stephen Crain. 2012. “The Language Faculty.” In: Margolis, Eric, Richard Samuels, and Stephen P. Stich, eds. The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Cognitive Science. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Ryle, Gilbert. 1949. The Concept of Mind. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books.

Sober, Elliott. 2000. Philosophy of Biology. Colorado, CO: Westview Press. Thomson, Judith Jarvis. 2008. “People and their Bodies.” In: Sider, Theodore, John Hawthorne, and Dean W. Zimmerman, eds. Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

Turing, Alan. 1950. “Computing Machinery and Intelligence.” Mind 49: 433–460.

Vygotsky, Lev. 1986. Thought and Language. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.