Chomsky’s Naturalism and Political Philosophy

Abstract

Having introduced what I take to be distinctive about Chomsky’s ideasregarding knowledge and science and how they might be incorporated intoa naturalist approach to inquiry that embraces the social sciences, I will setout in the remaining chapters some of the ways in which they might informour understanding of a wide range of social and political issues. In thischapter I intend to pursue Chomsky’s response to one feature of what I havecalled Plato’s Problem’, the need to establish grounds for value judgementsin politics upon which to develop principled positions. This can be expressedby asking the question: How is it that we are able to develop ethical codesand principles in politics?As we have seen thus far Chomsky’s ideas about human nature lead himtowards an ethical naturalist position with regard to an understanding of ouracquisition of values. This chapter will focus upon three main features ofChomsky’ s work and what kind of answers they offer us with regard to Plato’sProblem. I will begin by examining the grounds that Chomsky presents indefence of his account of human nature. Chomsky’s development of the ideaof abduction is central in his tentative understanding of the acquisition ofthe ethical principles which underpin social and political thought.