Chomsky and Wittgenstein are prominent representatives of two different perspectives on the relationship between language and thought. Both are regarded as epoch-making thinkers in their reflections on language. Yet what are the major differences between their views of language, and why is comparing these views important? A comparison of their ideas—independent of any partisanship—has intrinsic significance, for attending to the degree of divergence between these two intellectual trajectories is highly illuminating for gaining an overall picture of key currents in contemporary philosophy and linguistics and their differences. Chomsky’s mentalist approach to grammar and linguistic rules inaugurated a revolutionary shift in linguistic studies, whereas only a short time earlier, Wittgenstein’s later views had provoked serious debates among his philosophical contemporaries and gave rise to an innovative current in the philosophy of language. Wittgenstein’s novel approach emerged along a path wholly at odds with Chomsky’s revolutionary linguistic project, for in his account of language and verbal communication, Wittgenstein redirected philosophical attention from the inner realm of mind to the outer realm of behavior and social practices. In this study, using an analytical method and drawing on the works of both thinkers, we focus specifically on the topic of grammar and linguistic rules from their respective standpoints and examine their several arguments. The analysis shows that essentialism in Chomsky’s thought and Wittgenstein’s rejection of such essentialism constitute a fundamental divergence in their approaches to the problem of language. This foundational difference, moreover, carries significant implications for social issues, including the nature of dialogue.
Shaqaqi, H. (2025). Grammar and Rules: The Chomsky–Wittgenstein Divide. Journal of Philosophical Investigations, (), -. doi: 10.22034/jpiut.2025.69940.4295
MLA
Shaqaqi, H. . "Grammar and Rules: The Chomsky–Wittgenstein Divide", Journal of Philosophical Investigations, , , 2025, -. doi: 10.22034/jpiut.2025.69940.4295
HARVARD
Shaqaqi, H. (2025). 'Grammar and Rules: The Chomsky–Wittgenstein Divide', Journal of Philosophical Investigations, (), pp. -. doi: 10.22034/jpiut.2025.69940.4295
CHICAGO
H. Shaqaqi, "Grammar and Rules: The Chomsky–Wittgenstein Divide," Journal of Philosophical Investigations, (2025): -, doi: 10.22034/jpiut.2025.69940.4295
VANCOUVER
Shaqaqi, H. Grammar and Rules: The Chomsky–Wittgenstein Divide. Journal of Philosophical Investigations, 2025; (): -. doi: 10.22034/jpiut.2025.69940.4295
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