Poverty of the Stimulus: Willingness to be Puzzled

Noam Chomsky

doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199590339.003.0004

Poverty of the Stimulus: Willingness to be Puzzled

Noam Chomsky

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

This chapter begins by identifying parallels between the development of Generative Grammar and the rise of the modern scientific revolution. It then claims that the willingness to be puzzled by what seem to be obvious truths is the first step in understanding how the world works. Once we agree to be puzzled by the elementary Poverty of Stimulus problem, and try to offer a principled answer to it, there are many important consequences that follow, and many new problems arise. This is precisely what we should expect in a research program that seeks answers to fundamental questions.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Rich Languages From Poor Inputs
Publisher	Oxford University Press
ISBN (Electronic)	9780191745041
ISBN (Print)	9780199590339
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199590339.003.0004
State	Published - Jan 24 2013
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Communication
Generative grammar
Language
Poverty of stimulus
Scientific revolution

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Arts and Humanities

Access to Document

10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199590339.003.0004

Cite this

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title = "Poverty of the Stimulus: Willingness to be Puzzled",

abstract = "This chapter begins by identifying parallels between the development of Generative Grammar and the rise of the modern scientific revolution. It then claims that the willingness to be puzzled by what seem to be obvious truths is the first step in understanding how the world works. Once we agree to be puzzled by the elementary Poverty of Stimulus problem, and try to offer a principled answer to it, there are many important consequences that follow, and many new problems arise. This is precisely what we should expect in a research program that seeks answers to fundamental questions.",

keywords = "Communication, Generative grammar, Language, Poverty of stimulus, Scientific revolution",

author = "Noam Chomsky",

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AB - This chapter begins by identifying parallels between the development of Generative Grammar and the rise of the modern scientific revolution. It then claims that the willingness to be puzzled by what seem to be obvious truths is the first step in understanding how the world works. Once we agree to be puzzled by the elementary Poverty of Stimulus problem, and try to offer a principled answer to it, there are many important consequences that follow, and many new problems arise. This is precisely what we should expect in a research program that seeks answers to fundamental questions.

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KW - Scientific revolution

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ER -

Poverty of the Stimulus: Willingness to be Puzzled

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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