Speaker: Tianshan Dai (Shenzhen Polytechnic University)
Title: The Taoist Perspective of Chomskys Philosophy of Language
Date/Time: Thursday, Apr 24, 12:30-1:45p
Location: 32-D461
In this talk, I will discuss and interpret some of the lines from Chuang Tzus writings about the nature of language, childrens acquisition of language, languages communicative function and meaning, etc. I compare Chuang Tzus Taoist philosophy of language with that of Chomsky, pointing out many striking similarities between the two, which shed light on both historical traditions between the east and the west. I conclude in the talk that the Platos problem or the Descartes problem in the west could be appropriately labeled Chuang Tzus problem in the east, and the development of generative linguistics can serve as a modern interpretation of Chuang Tzus Taoist philosophy of language.