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Title: | The Disassociation of Methodology and Ontology in Biolinguistics: An Application of Kant’s Philosophy to Generative Linguistics |
Authors: | Li, Runze |
Advisor: | Colarusso, John Stroinska, Magda |
Department: | Cognitive Science of Language |
Keywords: | Kant;Biolinguistics;Dogmatism;Naturalism |
Publication Date: | 2020 |
Abstract: | In this thesis, I argue that the current biolinguists commit a categorical error when they study the so-claimed “language organ” (an ontological non-naturalist act) with methods that (they claim) align with natural sciences (a methodological naturalist act). I will argue that they are turning linguistic studies into “demonology”, a cult-like dogma, by having this disassociation in their ontological and methodological views, for this disassociation lets linguistics lose the ultimate ground that validates all knowledge: the reality, or experience in Kant’s term. In turn, this disassociation enlarges the split of current linguistic study: the generative/biolinguistics vs. the cognitive linguistics/psych-linguistics/ usage-based linguistics (or whatever other name one wants to call them). I will first briefly introduce what Kant said about similar issues (chapter 2). Then, I will introduce the disassociation of methodological and ontological naturalism in current linguistic doctrine (chapter 3) and how this disassociation is turning linguistics into a self-entertaining demonology with examples of the language organ, language evolution, and Principles and Parameters. Chapter 4 will be a discussion as why things have become what they are, and ends with some conclusions |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11375/25993 |
Appears in Collections: | Open Access Dissertations and Theses |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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Li_Runze_2020 Oct._Msc.pdf | 1.08 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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