Exploring the Debate of the Explanation for the Evolutionary Origin of Human Language Faculty within Generativism

BLANCO, DANIEL; GONZALO, ADRIANA

PERI. REVISTA DE FILOSOFÍA

UFSC

Año: 2020 vol. 12 p. 166 - 188

2175-1811

The current debate about the evolution of language within linguistic generativism primarily deals with the intended explanatory scope of the theory of natural selection. This discussion has generated numerous misinterpretations regarding conceptual issues, what makes an explication necessary. This contribution, metatheoretical in nature, means to partially satisfy this desideratum considering how the multiplicity of adaptationist hypotheses affects the controversy. Furthermore, we show the connection between how the faculty of language is characterized as explanandum of diverse theoretical perspective, and the explanative approach the parts in the debate are willing to accept.