PHI-30032 - Module Specification
School of Social, Political and Global Studies
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2021/22

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

N/A

Description for 2021/22

Noam Chomsky is, on any metric, one of the most influential thinkers of all time. His earliest work provided the foundations for modern linguistic theory, steering the field away from the then-dominant behaviorist/structuralist approaches to language. This work also provided empirical motivation and a conceptual framework for the fledgling field of cognitive science. In subsequent years he has been responsible for a series of minor revolutions within linguistics, revising and updating our understanding of human natural language. Outside of his core fields, he has also made important contributions to various other fields, from mathematics to philosophy. Alongside his academic career, he has also served as one of the world¿s leading public intellectuals. He is perhaps as (in)famous for his criticisms of American foreign and domestic policy as he is for his theoretical work.
In this module, we will take a synoptic look at some central themes from Chomsky¿s thought about mind, language, and politics, focusing on those aspects of his work with the deepest philosophical significance.

This module aims to introduce students to the philosophical, scientific, and political work of Noam Chomsky.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate good understanding of the core philosophical, scientific, and political work of Noam Chomsky: 1,2
Reflect independently on the topics examined in the module and present their own views: 1,2
Focus research on some aspects of a significant question and articulate an informed and critical answer: 1,2
Note connections between issues in this module and other areas of philosophy, psychology, and politics studied: 1,2
Explain technical examples clearly using appropriate language and basic generative grammars where necessary: 1,2
Infer and to explain the implications of different theories of human language: 1,2
Analyse and evaluate the main positions on the key debates in the field: 1,2
Draw connections between theories of language, mind, and politics: 1,2
Understand and evaluate left-wing libertarian critiques of media, government, and economics: 1,2

Study hours

Lectures: 10 hours
Seminars: 10 hours
Seminar preparation: 40 hours
Short Essay Preparation: 30 hours
Long essay preparation: 60 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment