Jerry A. Fodor

Jerry A. Fodor was a philosopher and cognitive scientist known for his work on the philosophy of mind and language. He argued for the idea that thought operates in a language of the mind, which he called "Mentalese." Fodor emphasized the importance of innate concepts, suggesting that our understanding of the world is shaped by these built-in ideas rather than just experience. In pragmatics, which studies language in context, Fodor contributed to our understanding of how meaning isn't just about words but also about the cognitive processes and concepts behind them, influencing how we communicate and interpret messages.