Ryan M. Nefdt is a philosopher of science who works on issues in linguistics, cognitive science, and AI at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of St Andrews, an MSc in Logic from the University of Amsterdam and an MA in Philosophy from the University of Cape Town. He has held research positions at various institutions such as MIT, Pittsburgh, Edinburgh, Minnesota, Yale, and Michigan and is published in numerous journals including Linguistics & Philosophy, Mind & Language, Biology & Philosophy, Synthese, Philosophy Compass, and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
A impressive achievement. Integrating work in the philosophy of science with wide-ranging knowledge of linguistic theory and contemporary cognitive science, this book provides both an evaluation of traditional debates within the philosophy of linguistics as well as a proposal for how it ought to be done in the future... This is a highly engaging book, rich with insight and packed with empirical and conceptual detail. Those working in philosophy of linguistics must read it, those in other areas merely should. * Gabriel Dupre, Philosophical Quarterly *