Name: What Kind of Creatures Are We?
ISBN: 9780231175968

Noam Chomsky

In clear, precise, and non-technical language, Chomsky elaborates on fifty years of scientific development in the study of language, sketching how his own work has implications for the origins of language, the close relations that language bears to thought, and its biological basis. Moving from language and mind to society and politics, he concludes with a philosophical defense of libertarian socialism.

What Kind of Creatures Are We?

Cindy Lieberman

“What Kind of Creatures are We?” To paraphrase Noam Chomsky, limited. We can handle problems that fall within the range of our cognitive capabilities. Yet that excludes a significant amount when it comes to our minds, chemistry and physics notwithstanding. What we cannot understand is still a mystery to us, and he uses the term “mysterianism” (or similar) as a way of explaining that we don’t know or aren’t capable of knowing some answers now and may never be. Not all answers will come from literal experience. 

As an audiobook listen, I did have to stop and rewind occasionally when my mind wandered. I’m sure my retention would improve if I took the time to read or re-play it, but this was sufficient for now. 

I’ve long admired the author’s work, so I selected this book for the philosophy square on my summer reading #BookBingoNW 2020 card.