Noam Chomsky is one of the most prominent intellectuals of the 20th century. Born on December 7, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he grew up in a Jewish family that was politically active and involved in the labor movement. Chomsky’s early years were marked by a love of language, music, and books. He was an avid reader from a young age and would later become known for his contributions to linguistics, philosophy, and political theory.
Chomsky attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied linguistics with Zellig Harris, a leading figure in the field at the time. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1949 and went on to pursue graduate studies at Harvard University. At Harvard, Chomsky worked under the guidance of George Zipf, a linguist who had developed a mathematical theory of language. Chomsky became interested in developing a theory of syntax that would account for the structure of sentences in all languages.
In 1955, Chomsky published his first book, “Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory,” which laid out the framework for his theory of generative grammar. In this theory, Chomsky posited that all humans have an innate ability to acquire language and that the structure of language is determined by a set of rules that are universal across all languages. He argued that this innate ability to acquire language is part of our genetic makeup and is distinct from other cognitive abilities.
Chomsky’s work on language acquisition and syntax revolutionized the field of linguistics and established him as one of the leading scholars in the field. He continued to develop his theory of generative grammar throughout the 1960s and 1970s, publishing a series of influential books and articles that challenged traditional assumptions about language and its structure.
In addition to his work in linguistics, Chomsky became increasingly involved in political activism during the 1960s. He was an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War and became involved in the anti-war movement. Chomsky’s political views were shaped by his upbringing in a politically active family and his experiences in the civil rights movement. He became known for his criticism of US foreign policy and his advocacy for social justice.
Chomsky’s political activism and his contributions to linguistics are closely intertwined. He has argued that language is a tool for social and political control and that the study of language can help us understand power relations in society. Chomsky’s work on language and power has influenced a wide range of disciplines, including anthropology, psychology, and philosophy.
In the 1980s, Chomsky became involved in the debate over cognitive science and the nature of the mind. He argued that the mind is not a blank slate but is instead pre-programmed with a set of innate structures that shape our understanding of the world. Chomsky’s work on cognitive science and the mind has continued to influence research in these areas.
Chomsky has published over 100 books and has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout his career. He has been a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) since 1955 and has trained a generation of linguists and political activists. Chomsky continues to be an active scholar and public intellectual, speaking out on a wide range of issues and advocating for social and political change.
100 notable books by Noam Chomsky, covering various topics such as linguistics, politics, media analysis, and more:
- “Syntactic Structures” (1957)
- “Aspects of the Theory of Syntax” (1965)
- “Language and Mind” (1968)
- “The Sound Pattern of English” (1968)
- “American Power and the New Mandarins” (1969)
- “For Reasons of State” (1973)
- “Reflections on Language” (1975)
- “Rules and Representations” (1980)
- “Towards a New Cold War” (1982)
- “Knowledge of Language: Its Nature, Origin, and Use” (1986)
- “Powers and Prospects” (1996)
- “The Minimalist Program” (1995)
- “Year 501: The Conquest Continues” (1993)
- “Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies” (1989)
- “Deterring Democracy” (1991)
- “Hegemony or Survival: America’s Quest for Global Dominance” (2003)
- “Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy” (2006)
- “Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media” (1988) (co-authored with Edward S. Herman)
- “Language and Problems of Knowledge” (1988)
- “Chomsky on Mis-Education” (1993)
- “World Orders Old and New” (1996)
- “The Chomsky-Foucault Debate on Human Nature” (2006) (with Michel Foucault)
- “Interventions” (2007)
- “What Kind of Creatures Are We?” (2015)
- “Requiem for the American Dream: The 10 Principles of Concentration of Wealth & Power” (2017)
- “Who Rules the World?” (2016)
- “The Essential Chomsky” (2008)
- “Occupy” (2012)
- “Optimism over Despair: On Capitalism, Empire, and Social Change” (2017)
- “On Anarchism” (2013)
- “Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky” (2002)
- “The Science of Language” (1993)
- “Rethinking Camelot: JFK, the Vietnam War, and U.S. Political Culture” (1993)
- “The Prosperous Few and the Restless Many” (1993)
- “Pirates and Emperors, Old and New” (2002)
- “Powers and Prospects: Reflections on Nature and the Social Order” (1996)
- “On Language” (1998)
- “Hopes and Prospects” (2010)
- “Chomsky vs. Foucault: A Debate on Human Nature” (2006)
- “Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda” (1997)
- “Chomsky on Democracy and Education” (2003)
- “Class Warfare: Interviews with David Barsamian” (1996)
- “The Common Good” (1998)
- “The Umbrella of U.S. Power” (1999)
- “Radical Priorities” (2003)
- “Chomsky: Ideas and Ideals” (1999)
- “Chomsky: Selected Readings” (1999)
- “Toward a New Cold War” (2003)
- “Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky” (2002)
- “Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda” (1997)
- “The Culture of Terrorism” (1988)
- “Propaganda and the Public Mind” (2001)
- “The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism” (1979) (co-authored with Edward S. Herman)
- “The Fateful Triangle: The United States, Israel, and the Palestinians” (1983)
- “Turning the Tide: U.S. Intervention in Central America and the Struggle for Peace” (1985)
- “What Uncle Sam Really Wants” (1992)
- “Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies” (1989)
- “The Chomsky Reader” (1987)
- “Objectivity and Liberal Scholarship” (1969)
- “Language and Responsibility” (1979)
- “Prospects for Democracy” (1989)
- “The New Military Humanism: Lessons from Kosovo” (1999)
- “The Cold War and the University: Toward an Intellectual History of the Postwar Years” (1997)
- “The Essential Chomsky” (2008)
- “The Chomsky Update: Linguistics and Politics” (1987)
- “Class Warfare: Interviews with David Barsamian” (1996)
- “The Responsibility of Intellectuals” (1967)
- “The Political Economy of Human Rights” (1979)
- “The Conquest of Paradise: Christopher Columbus and the Columbian Legacy” (1992)
- “On Nature and Language” (2002)
- “Deterring Democracy” (1991)
- “Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky” (2002)
- “Chomsky on Democracy and Education” (2003)
- “The Essential Chomsky” (2008)
- “Chomsky: Ideas and Ideals” (1999)
- “Chomsky: Selected Readings” (1999)
- “Toward a New Cold War” (2003)
- “Hopes and Prospects” (2010)
- “How the World Works” (2011)
- “Occupy: Reflections on Class War, Rebellion, and Solidarity” (2012)
- “Propaganda and the Public Mind: Conversations with Noam Chomsky” (2001)
- “Year 501: The Conquest Continues” (1993)
- “Because We Say So” (2015)
- “Who Rules the World?” (2016)
- “Requiem for the American Dream: The 10 Principles of Concentration of Wealth & Power” (2017)
- “What Kind of Creatures Are We?” (2015)
- “Language and Thought” (1993)
- “Language and Politics” (2004)
- “Chomsky Notebook” (1974)
- “Language and Responsibility” (1979)
- “The Chomsky Effect: A Radical Works Beyond the Ivory Tower” (2008)
- “On Anarchism” (2013)
- “Rogue States: The Rule of Force in World Affairs” (2000)
- “The Prosperous Few and the Restless Many” (1993)
- “The Political Economy of Human Rights” (1979)
- “Towards a New Cold War” (1982)
- “Radical Priorities” (2003)
- “The Chomsky-Foucault Debate on Human Nature” (2006)
- “Fateful Triangle: The United States, Israel, and the Palestinians” (1983)
- “Power Systems: Conversations on Global Democratic Uprisings and the New Challenges to U.S. Empire” (2013)
Please note that this list includes some co-authored works and compilations featuring Chomsky’s essays, interviews, and speeches. The bibliography of Noam Chomsky is extensive, reflecting his prolific output as an intellectual and social critic.
In conclusion, Noam Chomsky is a towering figure in the fields of linguistics, political theory, and cognitive science. His contributions to our understanding of language, the mind, and power relations in society have been profound and far-reaching. Chomsky’s work has inspired generations of scholars and activists, and his legacy will continue to shape our understanding of the world for many years to come.
20 Notable Quotes by Noam Chomsky
- “If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.”
- “The general population doesn’t know what’s happening, and it doesn’t even know that it doesn’t know.”
- “The more you can increase fear of drugs, crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens, the more you control all the people.”
- “The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum.”
- “Language is not just words. It’s a culture, a tradition, a unification of a community, a whole history that creates what a community is. It’s all embodied in language.”
- “Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.”
- “It is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth and expose lies.”
- “The question of whether the computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether submarines can swim.”
- “If you want to achieve anything, you have to be able to tolerate and absorb a certain amount of pain.”
- “The intellectual tradition is one of servility to power, and if I didn’t betray it I’d be ashamed of myself.”
- “The whole educational and professional training system is a very elaborate filter, which just weeds out people who are too independent, and who think for themselves, and who don’t know how to be submissive.”
- “It’s only when you look at the world with economic spectacles that you realize how little sense it makes.”
- “The idea that you have to be protected from any kind of uncomfortable emotion is what I absolutely do not subscribe to.”
- “Education is a system of imposed ignorance.”
- “Resistance is feasible even for those who are not heroes by nature, and it is an obligation, I believe, for those who fear the consequences and detest the reality of the attempt to impose American hegemony.”
- “The major advances in civilization are processes that all but wreck the societies in which they occur.”
- “It is the systems of power that are instrumental in selecting the individuals who are to succeed and achieve power, and not necessarily those who are most talented.”
- “The United States is unusual among the industrial democracies in the rigidity of the system of ideological control – “indoctrination,” we might say – exercised through the mass media.”
- “The only way to deal with [terrorism] is to understand why it’s happening.”
- “If you assume that there is no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope. If you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, that there are opportunities to change things, then there is a possibility that you can contribute to making a better world.”