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Articles

Vol. 1 (2025): Philogram Journal for Advanced Philosophical Research

Have Fodor and Chomsky resolved the Problem of Language-Thought Priority?

Submitted
28 July 2025
Published
01-12-2025

Abstract

This study shall investigate the conceptual interplay between thought and language as illuminated by Noam Chomsky and Jerry Fodor. It explores how both scholars rekindled the age-old debate by positing language and thought within unique, modular frameworks. Central to this analysis are three core questions: Can thought or language be modular? Should one be prioritized over the other? And how do their views engage with assumptions of identity, difference, and precedence? Chomsky's theory posits language as prior to thought, emphasizing inherent linguistic structures, while Fodor advocates the primacy of thought, proposing a modular “language of thought”. This comparative study seeks to clarify the theoretical underpinnings of each perspective, aiming to elucidate whether thought and language can be distinctly modular and how each paradigm advances our understanding of cognitive processes in language development.

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