Connections between Noam Chomsky's linguistic and political theories

This thesis is an exploration of how Noam Chomsky's linguistic theory relates and connects to his beliefs about the adequacy of current political structures. My first step is to describe Chomsky's understanding of the empiricist theories of language use that were dominant in the first half of this century. The most extreme form of empiricist linguistics is found in B. F. Skinner's behaviourist approach to language use. Chomsky takes issue with the behaviourist's project, claiming that such a method inevitably incorporates mentalistic terms and fails to provide an exhaustive account of language use. Most importantly, empiricist linguistics fails to account for the creative aspect of language use (CALU).;According to Chomsky, rationalist linguistics does account for CALU. Chomsky believes that his innateness hypothesis is the only plausible explanation for language acquisition. Chomsky goes on to describe a linguistic theory that includes recursive rules in a generative grammar. These mechanisms can account for CALU and language acquisition but their nature is such that they must exist innately in the human mind. A primary characteristic of these innate mechanisms is that they allow for spontaneous and innovative language use.;Chomsky extrapolates from this aspect of language use to claim that innovation and spontaneity are essential characteristics of human nature. In essence, humans are free by nature. The third chapter of this thesis attempts to show how Chomsky's understanding of human nature informs his political theory. Chomsky claims that human fulfillment requires free and creative living. Current political arrangements stifle this requirement. Chomsky believes superior political arrangements would be more libertarian socialist in nature, with freedom as the prime concern.