Dupre, Gabe (2021) Realism and Observation: The View From Generative Grammar. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Standard proposals of scientific anti-realism assume that the methodology of a scientific research program can be endorsed without accepting its metaphysical commitments. I argue that the distinction between competence, the rules governing one’s language faculty, and performance, linguistic behavior, precludes this. Linguistic theories aim to describe competence, not performance, and so must be able to distinguish observations reflective of the former from those reflective of the latter. This classification of data makes sense only against the background of a psychologically realistic view of linguistic theory. So the very methodology of the science commits one to its realistic interpretation.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Dupre, Gabe 0000-0001-9312-4691
Additional Information:	Forthcoming in Philosophy of Science
Keywords:	Realism, Cognitive Science, Generative Linguistics
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Depositing User:	Dr. Gabe Dupre
Date Deposited:	23 Jul 2021 13:58
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2021 13:58
Item ID:	19351
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Date:	8 June 2021
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/19351

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• Realism and Observation: The View From Generative Grammar. (deposited 12 Jun 2021 14:08)
  • Realism and Observation: The View From Generative Grammar. (deposited 23 Jul 2021 13:58) [Currently Displayed]

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