Lex Fridman Podcast Noam Chomsky: Language, Cognition, and Deep Learning
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Nov 29, 2019 
Noam Chomsky, a towering figure in linguistics and philosophy, discusses the profound connections between language and cognition. He explores the intriguing idea of communicating with extraterrestrial beings, the brain's role in language, and the limits of human thought. The conversation also highlights the promise and pitfalls of deep learning in understanding language and touches on deep questions about good, evil, mortality, and the meaning of life itself. Chomsky's insights make for an intellectually stimulating dialogue that provokes reflection and curiosity.
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Common Language with Aliens
- A common language with aliens might be possible, based on core properties of human language and arithmetic.
- These might be universally shared, stemming from basic computational principles like those in simple Turing machines.
Internal and External Language
- Language exists as both an internal system within our minds and an external system of expressed communication.
- The internal system dictates the grammar of our native language, while the external system is the manifestation of those internal rules.
Language and Cognition
- Language, like vision, is rooted in our genetic endowment, unique to humans.
- It's central to human cognition, shaping thought, enabling creativity, and underpinning our unique achievements.