Avram Noam Chomsky is a seminal figure in linguistics and philosophy, credited with revolutionizing the field through his theory of generative grammar. His work also spurred the cognitive revolution in psychology and profoundly influenced the philosophy of language and mind with his naturalistic approach. Beyond his academic contributions, Chomsky has become widely recognized for his political activism and incisive critiques of governmental foreign policies, establishing him as one of the most cited scholars.
Kosovo, East Timor, and the "Responsibility to Protect" Today
176 pages
7 hours of reading
The book delves into the complexities of 'human intervention' as employed by Western powers, examining its implications and contradictions. Chomsky critiques the moral justifications for interventions in various global crises, including Afghanistan, Libya, Palestine, Syria, and Ukraine. An updated foreword by Jean Bricmont highlights the continued relevance of Chomsky's analysis, reinforcing his sharp critiques of Western foreign policy and the ethical dilemmas surrounding humanitarian interventions.
Chomsky's incisive critique of American media, originally published in 1993, explores the manipulation and distortion of information. The reissue includes a new foreword by David Barsamian, highlighting the book's enduring relevance in today's landscape of disinformation and 'fake news'. It serves as a vital examination of media practices and their impact on public perception, making it a significant read for those concerned about the integrity of information in contemporary society.
Reflections on 70 Years of Revolution and Struggle
208 pages
8 hours of reading
The book features a dialogue between prominent thinkers exploring the complex and often contentious relationship between the Cuban Revolution and U.S. imperialism. It delves into the historical, political, and cultural implications of this interplay, offering insights into how these forces have shaped each other over time. Through their discussions, the authors aim to illuminate the broader themes of power, resistance, and the impact of ideology on both nations.
Critiquing U.S. military and economic actions globally, Chomsky and Robinson argue that the American pursuit of dominance has caused widespread chaos without enhancing national safety. They reveal how U.S. elites perpetuate myths about democracy to justify harmful foreign policies, with a focus on conflicts like those in Iraq and Afghanistan. The authors warn that these narratives are driving the U.S. toward dangerous confrontations with Russia and China, while also exacerbating threats like nuclear proliferation and climate change. This work serves as a critical examination of American ideals and their consequences.
The goal of this contribution to the Elements series is to closely examine
Merge, its form, its function, and its central role in current linguistic
theory. It explores what it does (and does not do), why it has the form it
has, and its development over time.
Noam Chomsky examines the crumbling of the social fabric and the fractures of the Biden era, including the halting steps toward a Green New Deal, the illegitimate authority of the Supreme Court, in particular its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and the ongoing fallout from COVID-19. Chomsky also untangles the roots of the War in Ukraine, the diplomatic tensions among the United States, China, and Russia, and considers the need for climate action on an international scale. Illegitimate Authority exposes those who wield power in their own self-interest and plots framework for how we can stand together and fight against injustice.
Taming the Rascal Multitude is a judicious selection of essays and interviews from Z Magazine from 1997 to 2014. In each, Chomsky takes up some question of the moment. The essays provide an historical overview of the history that preceded Trump and the reaction to Trump. The essays situate what followed even without having known what would follow. They explicate what preceded the current era and provide a step-by-step revelation or how-to for successfully comprehending social events and relations. They are a pleasure to read and they educate.
Two of our most celebrated intellectuals grapple with the uncertain aftermath of the American collapse in Afghanistan Not since the last American troops left Vietnam have we faced such a sudden vacuum in our foreign policy--not only of authority, but also of explanations of what happened, and what the future holds. Few analysts are better poised to address this moment than Noam Chomsky and Vijay Prashad, intellectuals and critics whose work spans generations and continents. Called "the most widely read voice on foreign policy on the planet" by the New York Times Book Review, Noam Chomsky is the guiding light of dissidents around the world. In The Withdrawal, Chomsky joins with noted scholar Vijay Prashad--who "helps to uncover the shining worlds hidden under official history and dominant media" (Eduardo Galeano)--to get at the roots of this unprecedented time of peril and change. Chomsky and Prashad interrogate key inflection points in America's downward spiral: from the disastrous Iraq War to the failed Libyan intervention to the descent into chaos in Afghanistan. As the final moments of American power in Afghanistan fade from view, this crucial book argues that we must not take our eyes off the wreckage--and that we need, above all, an unsentimental view of the new world we must build together.
An accessible, powerful overview of Noam Chomsky's political thought In sixteen extended talks with Alternative Radio's David Barsamian, Noam Chomsky explains why the 'war on drugs' is really a war on poor people; how attacks on political correctness are attacks on independent thought; how historical revisionism has recast the United States as the victim in the Vietnam War. Widely recognized as one of the most original and important thinkers of our age, Chomsky's trenchant analysis of current events is a breath of fresh air in a world more and more polluted by mainstream media.
Two distinguished linguists on language, the history of science, misplaced euphoria, surprising facts, and potentially permanent mysteries.In The Secrets of Words , influential linguist Noam Chomsky and his longtime colleague Andrea Moro have a wide-ranging conversation, touching on such topics as language and linguistics, the history of science, and the relation between language and the brain. Moro draws Chomsky out on today’s misplaced euphoria about artificial intelligence (Chomsky sees “lots of hype and propaganda” coming from Silicon Valley), the study of the brain (Chomsky points out that findings from brain studies in the 1950s never made it into that era’s psychology), and language acquisition by children. Chomsky in turn invites Moro to describe his own experiments, which proved that there exist impossible languages for the brain, languages that show surprising properties and reveal unexpected secrets of the human mind.Chomsky once said, “It is important to learn to be surprised by simple facts”—“an expression of yours that has represented a fundamental turning point in my own personal life,” says Moro—and this is something of a theme in their conversation. Another theme is that not everything can be known; there may be permanent mysteries, about language and other matters. Not all words will give up their secrets.