Cartesian Linguistics

Cartesian Linguistics is a theory proposed by Noam Chomsky that suggests human language is based on innate mental structures rooted in Cartesian philosophy, which emphasizes clear, rational thinking. Chomsky argues that our ability to learn and produce language comes from inborn "universal grammar" hardwired into our brains, rather than solely from experience or imitation. This idea shifts the focus from language as learned behavior to an inherent cognitive capacity, explaining how children quickly acquire complex language skills and how many languages share common structural features despite differences.