As Norbert Hornstein writes in his foreword it underestimates Chomskysimpact in linguistics philosophy and psychology to describe it as immense.In Rules and Rep... » 

As Norbert Hornstein writes in his foreword it underestimates Chomskysimpact in linguistics philosophy and psychology to describe it as immense.In Rules and Representations Noam Chomsky lays out many of the concepts thathave made his approach to linguistics and human cognition so instrumental toour understanding of language.In this influential and controversial work Chomsky draws on philosophybiology and the study of the mind to consider the nature of human cognitivecapacities particularly as they are expressed in language. He arrives at hiswellknown position that there is a universal grammar genetically determinedstructured in the human mind and common to all human languages. Aside from hisexamination of the various principles of the universal grammar its rulesand representations Chomsky considers the biological basis of languagecapabilities and the possibility of studying mental structures and capacitiesin the manner of the natural sciences. Finally he also explores whether theremay be similar grammars of perception art human nature scientificreasoning and the unconscious.Based on Chomskys lively 1978 Woodbridge Lectures this edition firstpublished in 1980 contains revised versions of the original lectures and twonew essays. It also includes an extensive foreword by Norbert Hornsteindiscussing Chomskys ideas and their wideranging impact. «