Noam Chomsky aligns with Wilhelm von Humboldt's view that language is essential for individual freedom and creativity.
Language and thought evolved uniquely in humans, challenging conventional Darwinian understanding.
Deep dives
The Influence of Wilhelm von Humboldt
The speaker discusses how Wilhelm von Humboldt's ideas on language and liberty align with his own perspectives. Humboldt emphasized the importance of language as a fundamental human property that allows for individual freedom of inquiry and creativity. This aligns with the speaker's belief that human language and thought are closely interconnected and that language enables infinite use of finite means.
The Evolution of Language and Thought
The speaker explores the evolution of human language and thought, emphasizing that it did not follow the conventional Darwinian understanding. While some believed that language evolved as a more advanced form of communication found in animals, recent research suggests that language and thought evolved in a unique way that is consistent with the theory of evolution. The speaker challenges mistaken understandings of evolution and highlights the innate capacities and cognitive properties that distinguish human language and thought from the animal world.
Limitations of Large Language Models
The speaker criticizes large language models, stating that they cannot provide genuine insights into language and thought. These models rely on statistical regularities and can make accurate predictions about language usage, but they lack the ability to discern between possible and impossible languages. The speaker argues that these models cannot fully capture the essence of language and thought, which are innate capacities rooted in our genetic endowment.
Manufacturing Consent and Critiques of Media
The speaker discusses the concept of manufacturing consent and critiques media's role in shaping public opinion. They draw on historical examples, such as the Committee on Public Information in Woodrow Wilson's administration, to illustrate how public perception can be manipulated through propaganda and selective information distribution. The speaker argues that skepticism towards dominant media narratives is imperative and highlights the importance of grassroots activism in challenging existing power structures.
Noam Chomsky joins Tyler to discuss why Noam and Wilhelm von Humboldt have similar views on language and liberty, good and bad evolutionary approaches to language, what he thinks Stephen Wolfram gets wrong about LLMs, whether he’s optimistic about the future, what he thinks of Thomas Schelling, the legacy of the 1960s-era left libertarians, the development trajectories of Nicaragua and Cuba, why he still answers every email, what he’s been most wrong about, and more.