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2024-09-22 08:21:10

Noam Chomsky

American professor and public intellectual
American professor and public intellectual

Noam Chomsky, known for linguistics and activism, is a laureate professor at the University of Arizona. He is a major figure in analytic philosophy and cognitive science, with over 150 books written on various topics. Chomsky's ideologies align with anarcho-syndicalism and libertarian socialism.

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Descartes' Influence on Chomsky's Theory

Chomsky credits Descartes for the insight that human language is unique in its productivity and ability to express an infinite number of meanings. This idea is a foundational aspect of Chomsky's linguistic theory.

1908-12-07
Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, and cognitive scientist known for his influential work in linguistics and cognitive psychology. He is a prominent critic of mainstream media and U.S. foreign policy.

1913
William fleeing Russia to avoid conscription

In 1913, Noam Chomsky's father, William, fled Russia to escape conscription into the army. He later settled in the U.S. and worked in Baltimore sweatshops.

1928
Noam Chomsky born

Noam Chomsky, an American linguist, philosopher, and cognitive scientist, was born in 1928. He is known for his influential work in linguistics, cognitive science, and political activism.

1928-12-07
Birth of Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky, a prominent linguist, philosopher, and cognitive scientist, was born on December 7, 1928.

1928-12-07
Birth of Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky was born on December 7, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1930-07-01
Start of Period: Avram Noam Chomsky

The period of Avram Noam Chomsky's life started on July 1, 1930.

1935
Enrollment at University of Pennsylvania

At the age of 16, Noam Chomsky enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania and studied for two years.

1944
Chomsky's Independent Travels to New York City

At the age of 13, Noam Chomsky started traveling alone to New York City, where he spent a significant amount of time at his uncle's newsstand. During his visits, he engaged in reading books from the community and listening to the conversations of adults at the newsstand.

1945
Noam Chomsky enrolls at the University of Pennsylvania

In 1945, at the age of 16, Noam Chomsky enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania and supported his education by teaching Hebrew.

1947
Marriage to Carol Doris Chomsky

In 1947, Noam Chomsky married the linguist Carol Doris Chomsky (nee Schatz), with whom he had three children. Their marriage lasted until her death in 2008, marking a significant personal aspect of Chomsky's life.

1953
Quine's Critique of Analytic Truths

Quine, in 1953, critiqued the concept of analytic truths, arguing that allegedly analytic statements are no different from any other widely held belief.

1955-01-01
Started Teaching at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Noam Chomsky began his teaching career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

1956
Invention of Formal Language Theory by Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky's impactful research in the late 1950s and early 1960s led to the invention of formal language theory, which deals with languages formed by specific rules and an alphabet of symbols. This work challenged existing linguistic theories by demonstrating that natural human languages could not be generated by the lowest level of grammar.

1957-01-01
Publication of Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory

Noam Chomsky published his influential work 'Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory' in 1957.

1959
Chomsky's Review of Verbal Behavior

Chomsky's critical review of Skinner's Verbal Behavior highlighted the importance of internal organization and information processing in explaining complex behaviors like language use.

1960-01-01
Birth of Aviva Chomsky

Aviva Chomsky, daughter of Noam Chomsky, was born on January 1, 1960.

1961
Chomsky receives tenure and becomes full professor at MIT

In 1961, Chomsky achieved tenure and became a full professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics at MIT. This solidified his position as a leading figure in linguistics.

1962
Chomsky's Galilean Methodology

Chomsky's approach to studying language differs from structuralist linguists by focusing on crucial data that supports his theory rather than comprehensive analysis. He adopts a 'Galilean' method inspired by Galileo and Newton, which involves concentrating on key cases to identify principles that explain wider data.

1965
Introduction of the Standard Model in Aspects of the Theory of Syntax

Chomsky's 1965 work, Aspects of the Theory of Syntax, introduced the 'Standard Model' which addressed 'Plato's Problem' - the mystery of how children learn complex grammar with limited evidence.

1966
Publication of Cartesian Linguistics by Noam Chomsky

In 1966, Noam Chomsky published 'Cartesian Linguistics: A Chapter in the History of Rationalist Thought' in New York. The book explores the relationship between language and rationalist philosophy.

1967-01-01
Birth of Harry Chomsky

On January 1, 1967, Harry Chomsky, the son of a prominent linguist, was born.

1968-01-01
Publication of 'The Sound Pattern of English'

On January 1, 1968, Noam Chomsky and Morris Halle co-authored the influential book 'The Sound Pattern of English'.

1969
Concept of E-language introduced by Chomsky

Chomsky introduced the concept of E-language, where language is viewed as a public system shared between speakers to allow coordination. This concept emphasizes that language exists externally to its speakers and is difficult to define with firm boundaries.

1970
Chomsky named one of the 'makers of the twentieth century' by London Times

In 1970, the London Times recognized Noam Chomsky as one of the influential figures of the twentieth century.

1971
Chomsky received Guggenheim Fellowship

In 1971, Noam Chomsky was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship.

1972-01-01
End of Period: Studied Linguistics and Philosophy under Zellig Harris

Noam Chomsky's period of studying linguistics and philosophy under Zellig Harris came to an end.

1973
Chomsky's visit to southeast Asia and work in linguistics

In 1973, Noam Chomsky visited southeast Asia, lectured at Vietnam's Hanoi University, and continued to gain international recognition for his work in linguistics.

1975-01-01
The Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory

A book titled 'The Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory' was likely published on January 1, 1975.

1977
Huizinga Lecture in Leiden

Noam Chomsky delivered the Huizinga Lecture in Leiden in 1977.

1981
Universal Grammar

Chomsky proposed that language is not learned through experience but is innate, with children being born with Universal Grammar already in them. Language learning involves shaping the innate principles of language into the particularities of the child's native language.

1982
Development of Kripkenstein Argument

Saul Kripke developed an argument that raised skepticism about rule-following activities, including language use, inspired by Ludwig Wittgenstein's statement. The argument suggests that there is no way to determine which rule a person is actually following when seemingly following a rule.

1983
Publication of 'The Fateful Triangle'

In his book 'The Fateful Triangle' published in 1983, Noam Chomsky argued that the U.S. government manipulated the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for its own interests.

1984
Chomsky received American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology

In 1984, Noam Chomsky was honored with the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology.

1985
The Philosophy of Linguistics

In 1985, Jerrold Katz authored 'The Philosophy of Linguistics', delving into the philosophical aspects of the study of language. The book is published by Oxford University Press.

1986-01-01
Knowledge of Language (book)

A book titled 'Knowledge of Language' was likely published on January 1, 1986.

1988-02
Exclusion from policy debate

In February 1988, Saul Landau wrote about the exclusion of Noam Chomsky's insights from policy debates, emphasizing the importance of including his perspectives in the discourse.

1990
Katz's argument on the feature of cat

Katz argued that the concept of [animal] is a defining feature of the word cat, suggesting an intrinsic relationship between the two terms.

1991
Knowledge, Morality and Hope: The Social Thought of Noam Chomsky

An article in New Left Review by J. Cohen and J. Rogers that explores the social thought aspects of Noam Chomsky.

1995
Principles and Parameters Theory Shift

In 1995, Chomsky introduced a new approach in linguistics known as Principles and Parameters theory. This theory suggests that instead of specific syntactical rules, the grammar of a language is determined by the interaction of principles, parameter settings, and lexical properties.

1996
Chomsky awarded Helmholtz Medal

In 1996, Noam Chomsky was awarded the Helmholtz Medal.

1997
Chomsky's Theory on Language Acquisition

Chomsky connects the acquisition of vocabulary and grammar in children to innate concepts, suggesting that children already possess the concepts and are simply learning the labels for them. He addresses criticisms of this idea, including the question of how evolution could equip humans with certain concepts.

1998
Noam Chomsky Receives Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences

In 1998, Noam Chomsky was honored with the Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences for his groundbreaking work in the field of linguistics.

1999
Chomsky received Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science

In 1999, Noam Chomsky received the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science.

2000
Chomsky's idea of words as filters or lenses

Chomsky proposed that words should be seen as filters or lenses, providing different perspectives on things and thoughts. This challenges the traditional notion of fixed meanings for words.

2001
Chomsky's Views on the War on Terror

Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, Chomsky argued that the subsequent War on Terror was not a new phenomenon but a continuation of U.S. foreign policy since at least the Reagan era. He gave lectures in New Delhi and visited Cuba to express his perspectives.

2002
Publication of 'Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky'

In 2002, Noam Chomsky, along with Peter Mitchell and John Schoeffel, published 'Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky.' This book further solidified Chomsky's reputation as a highly cited scholar and critic of various societal issues.

2004
Chomsky received Carl-von-Ossietzky Prize from the city of Oldenburg, Germany

In 2004, Noam Chomsky was honored with the Carl-von-Ossietzky Prize from the city of Oldenburg, Germany.

2005
Chomsky voted world's leading public intellectual in The 2005 Global Intellectuals Poll

In 2005, Noam Chomsky was voted as the world's leading public intellectual in The 2005 Global Intellectuals Poll conducted by American magazine Foreign Policy and British magazine Prospect.

2006-01
Criticism by Peter Schweizer

In January 2006, Peter Schweizer criticized Chomsky for favoring estate tax and income redistribution but not applying it to his own income, highlighting Chomsky's estate plan and high speaking fees.

2007
Noam Chomsky receives The Uppsala University Honorary Doctor’s degree

In 2007, Noam Chomsky was honored with The Uppsala University Honorary Doctor’s degree named after Carolus Linnaeus.

2008-12-19
End of Period: Avram Noam Chomsky

The period of Avram Noam Chomsky's life ended on December 19, 2008.

2009
Criticism of Chomsky's Theories

In 2009, linguists Stephen Levinson and Nicholas Evans challenged Chomsky's theories by highlighting the lack of direct translations for concepts across different languages. This criticism raises doubts about the universality of childhood language acquisition.

2010
Chomsky awarded Erich Fromm Prize

In 2010, Noam Chomsky was awarded the Erich Fromm Prize.

2011
Chomsky awarded US Peace Prize by US Peace Memorial Foundation

In 2011, Noam Chomsky was awarded the US Peace Prize by the US Peace Memorial Foundation for his anti-war activities over five decades.

2012-03-27
83 yrs. old & doing well

On March 27, 2012, Noam Chomsky was reported to be 83 years old and in good health.

2014
Chomsky awarded Neil and Saras Smith Medal for Linguistics by British Academy

In 2014, Noam Chomsky received the Neil and Saras Smith Medal for Linguistics from the British Academy.

2015
Release of the Documentary 'Requiem for the American Dream'

In 2015, the documentary 'Requiem for the American Dream' summarized Chomsky's perspectives on capitalism and economic inequality in a 75-minute teach-in format.

2016
Publication of 'Who Rules the World?'

Noam Chomsky's book 'Who Rules the World?' was published in 2016. The book delves into Chomsky's critical analysis of U.S. foreign policy, showcasing his role as a prominent critic in academia.

2017-09
Noam Chomsky joins UA faculty

Noam Chomsky became a laureate professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Arizona in the fall of 2017. He also holds the Agnese Nelms Haury Chair in the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice.

2019-09-27
Bill Lamb's Updated Editorial Process

On September 27, 2019, Bill Lamb updated the editorial process. Bill Lamb is a music and arts writer with extensive experience in entertainment and culture.

2020
Representation of Language: Philosophical Issues in a Chomskyan Linguistics

An overview of the philosophical implications of Chomsky’s theories, particularly regarding the philosophy of science and the philosophy of mind, as well as a summary of the core linguistic theory.

2022
Comparison of Chomsky's Theories on Language

An article in The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy critically compares Noam Chomsky's theories on language and linguistic science with other major rival approaches.

2023-03-08
The False Promise of ChatGPT

Chomsky's work discussing the false promise of ChatGPT, along with other key works tracing the development of his linguistic theories.

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Noam Chomsky
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