neither

[navi]

1) The theory has to be simple enough to be worth having. That is, it must predict some things that are not in the theory itself (otherwise it is just a list of facts). But neither can the theory be so simple that it cannot explain things it should.

Source:
What’s universal grammar? Evidence rebuts Chomsky’s theory of language
learning
By Paul Ibbotson and Michael Tomasello


http://cogsys.sites.olt.ubc.ca...99s-theory-of-la.pdf

Is the last sentence grammatical?

There seems to me that there is no reason to use 'neither'. I can understand the sentenc, but to me 'neither' sounds incorrect there.

Could one replace 'neither' with 'nor'?

Gratefully,
Navi

[Erik_Kowal]

The pairing of "neither / nor" to describe phenomena in two or more negative terms is a familiar one, e.g.

The government's decision is neither fair nor sensible.

The president was neither sharp, nor well-informed, nor given to acting in good faith.

However, either word can be used to introduce a follow-on negating idea when it is employed singly, as with your specimen sentence above:

[But] neither can the theory be so simple that it cannot explain things it should.

[But] nor can the theory be so simple that it cannot explain things it should.

(The terms in square brackets are optional.)

[Phil White]

Erik is spot on.
Some simpler examples:

• I'm not deaf; neither am I stupid.
• I'm not deaf; nor am I stupid.
• It's not in the kitchen; neither is it in the lounge.

The construction is often used over two sentences. I chose to use a semicolon instead. I could also have used a dash. Whatever punctuation I use, in speech there is a significant pause before the second clause.