The Human Mind through the Lens of Language: Generative Explorations

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Most living forms in nature display various cognitive abilities in their behaviour. However, except for humans, no other animal builds fires and wheels, navigates with maps and tells stories to other conspecifics. We can witness this unique feature of the human mind in almost everything humans do, such as painting, singing and cooking; there is an underlying sense of unity in the generative part of these systems despite wide differences in what they are about. This book introduces, defends and develops a novel philosophical approach to the study of the generative mind. Nirmalangshu Mukherji argues for a single, species-specific generative principle that accounts for the human ability to combine symbolic forms without bound in each domain that falls under the generative mind.

Reviews

Mukherji uses the scalpel of philosophy of science to reshape fundamental issues in the philosophy of mind. In his new book he pursues this strategy by showing how linguistics contributes to the enterprise: core principles of language not only further the understanding of, but actually characterize the human mind. * Roberto Casati, Director, Institut Nicod, France *
The volume is a very lively and well-informed presentation of an original take on human mentality: a distinctive kind of combinatorial capacity, which is not localised by content or material realisation. While Murkherji takes his lead from Chomsky, he ranges far afield, bringing to bear a host of disciplines in support of his thesis. The book is suitable for everyone from students to scholars in linguistics, psychology, and philosophy, all of whom will be informed and entertained. * John Collins, Professor of Philosophy, University of East Anglia, UK *

Author Bio

Nirmalangshu Mukherji is a former Professor of Philosophy at the University of Delhi, India. He was also the National Visiting Professor for the Indian Council of Philosophical Research, India.