Linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist, Noam Chomsky juxtaposed the demands by the people of the Middle East, who are calling for the right to a good education, health care and employment, with those of the average American, who, according to Chomsky, seems to be resigned to a future without such rights.
PROGRAM NOTE: This online version of professor Chomsky's talk contains an extra 20 minutes that includes a post-speech "Question & Answer" session in its entirety that did not air as part of the original radio broadcast, which was edited for length due to time constraints.
University of New England's Center for Global Humanities hosted Chomsky's talk, delivered to a full house at the 1,000-seat Westbrook Performing Arts Center.
Chomsky has written and lectured widely on linguistics, philosophy, intellectual history, contemporary issues, international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. His works include: Aspects of the Theory of Syntax; Cartesian Linguistics; Language and Mind; American Power and the New Mandarins; At War with Asia; For Reasons of State; Peace in the Middle East?; New Horizons in the Study of Language and Mind; Rogue States; A New Generation Draws the Line; 9-11; Understanding Power; On Nature and Language; Pirates and Emperors, Old and New; Chomsky on Democracy and Education; Middle East Illusions; Hegemony or Survival; Imperial Ambitions; Failed States; Perilous Power; Interventions; Inside Lebanon; What We Say Goes: Conversations on U.S. Power in a Changing World; The Essential Chomsky; Hopes and Prospects; and Gaza in Crisis.
Chomsky joined the MIT staff in 1955 and in 1961 was appointed full professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics (now the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy). From 1966 to 1976 he held the Ferrari P. Ward Professorship of Modern Languages and Linguistics. In 1976 he was appointed Institute Professor, a position he holds today.
UNE’s Center for Global Humanities is a public forum designed to introduce students and members of the public to the exploration of the great issues facing humanity today.
This talk was recorded December 12, 2011 in Westbrook.
Visit the University of New England's web page for this event