Noam Chomsky
I dig this guy. Very compelling speaker. Anyone else at AI into Mr. Chomsky? I guess I am a nerd: I have a bunch-o-Chomsky lectures on my iPod!
FYI: Noam Chomsky is one of America's most prominent political dissidents. A renowned professor of linguistics at MIT, he has authored over 30 political books dissecting such issues as U.S. interventionism in the developing world, the political economy of human rights and the propaganda role of corporate media.
FYI: Noam Chomsky is one of America's most prominent political dissidents. A renowned professor of linguistics at MIT, he has authored over 30 political books dissecting such issues as U.S. interventionism in the developing world, the political economy of human rights and the propaganda role of corporate media.
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I should add that I thought he was a really bright guy until he said we deserved 9/11. I lost a lot of respect for him with his attitude that those people deserved to die. Sorry to rain on the thread, I just have a chip on my shoulder with that nut's name is mentioned.
It made a lot of sense.
Mike
The impression that I get, about Chomsky on politics, is that he is a beacon of reason among the naive. That is, people who haven't given political-economic concepts a lot of thought will find his views compellingly sharp. (Indeed, I think he's horribly wrong but I do find him to be sharp). But when you compare him side by side with people who are famous for political and economic though, he's just a hack.
Originally posted by dstranathan
I dig this guy. Very compelling speaker. Anyone else at AI into Mr. Chomsky? I guess I am a nerd: I have a bunch-o-Chomsky lectures on my iPod!
Yep! Same here. I also have the ripped audio track of the 'Manufacturing Consent' on there. Thought I was the only one.
Also, Splinemodel, he did not start linguistics in any way. Linguistics have been of major interest since the beginning of the 19th century (and again, with plenty of people studying it before that), but beginning of the 19th century with official recognition and authority. Should I mention the Germans, who were really the source of language study? (coicides with romanticism and desire to unveil the 'character' of the people). What Chomsky DID do was develop this concept of 'Generative grammar' (a.k.a. transformative grammar). He linked concepts that date back to Plato (the presupposition of language in every person, in 'basic syntax') and concepts that go back to 1920s structuralism (language being the result of the permanent re-combining of atomic building blocks), together with his own (in my opinion) bold conjecture.
Originally posted by BuonRotto
I lost a lot of respect for him with his attitude that those people deserved to die.
When did he say that they deserved to die?
Originally posted by BuonRotto
It'll take me a while to find that stuff, so it'll have to wait til tongiht. I didn't want you to think I was ignoring you. 1 1/2 years might have cooled me off a bit and maybe what he said isn't as bad as it sounded then. I'll get back to this...
No! You MUST respond now!!! The internet is instantaneous!!!
Or not.
Originally posted by BuonRotto
I thought he was a really bright guy until he said we deserved 9/11. I lost a lot of respect for him with his attitude that those people deserved to die
I remember him saying that 9/11 occurred because of US activities around the world but I don't recall him saying that any of the people killed on 9/11 deserved to die. It would surprise me if he had.
Edit: redundant question...
I have a couple of his books and a lecture on CD. Worth listening to/reading to get a different perspective.
Be careful about worshipping a human though, too many people like to just carry his stuff around like a Bible or a weapon to use in petty internet squabbles.
Originally posted by Splinemodel
He's a smart guy, no doubt. He basically started the field of linguistics, so he's definitely going to be remebered. But I don't think his senile comments on political matters will stand the test of time nearly as well as will his research on linguistics.
His comments on political matters stem from his work in linguistics: in short, he sees everything through that lens.
While the focus may be sharp in some ways, it's amazing myoptic in others.
Originally posted by groverat
Be careful about worshipping a human though, too many people like to just carry his stuff around like a Bible or a weapon to use in petty internet squabbles.
Well, well. Being honest, I'd have to point out to you that you are the only one I have ever seen drawing the Noam card in any discussion.