The Chomsky Foucault Debate

In this historic 1971 debate, two of the twentieth century’s most influential thinkers discuss whether there is such a thing as innate human nature. In 1971, at the height of the Vietnam War and at a time of great political and social instability, two of the world’s leading intellectuals, Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault, were invited by Dutch philosopher Fons Elders to debate an age-old question: Is there such a thing as “innate” human nature independent of our experiences and external influences? The resulting dialogue is one of the most original, provocative, and spontaneous exchanges to have occurred between contemporary philosophers. Above all, their discussion serves as a concise introduction to their two opposing theories. What begins as a philosophical argument rooted in linguistics (Chomsky) and the theory of knowledge (Foucault), soon evolves into a broader discussion encompassing a wide range of topics, from science, history, and behaviorism to creativity, freedom, and the struggle for justice in the realm of politics. In addition to the debate itself, this volume features a newly written introduction by noted Foucault scholar John Rajchman and includes substantial additional texts by Chomsky and Foucault. “[Chomsky is] arguably the most important intellectual alive.” —The New York Times “Foucault . . . leaves no reader untouched or unchanged.” —Edward Said

In 1971, at a time of enormous political and social change, two of the world's leading intellectuals, Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault, were invited by the Dutch philosopher Fons Elders to debate the question: is there an 'innate' human nature independent of our experiences and external influences? Their debate was one of the most provocative and original debates to have occurred between contemporary philosophers and serves as a concise introduction to their respective philosophical theories. While the debate began rooted in linguistics and theory of knowledge (the core interests of the two philosophers who are arguably the defining academic minds of the late twentieth-century) it became a much wider discussion, encompassing topics from history and behaviourism to creativity, freedom and the struggle for political justice. This is an intellectually exciting record of a meeting between two important philosophers and it also serves as the best possible introduction to the essential concerns and ideas of contemporary philosophy.

Fons Elders' interview with Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault to debate "is there an innate human nature independent of our experiences and external influences"? Chomsky visiting Australia Nov 2011.

This volume also includes several important works by Foucault previously unpublished in English.

An intellectual dissection of the modern media to show how an underlying economics of publishing warps the news.

Table of Contents Introduction Gisèle Sapiro ix Part I On Journalism and Television 1 Journalism and Politics 3 On Television 11 The Olympics-an Agenda for Analysis 62 The Power of Journalism 65 From Miscellany to a Matter of State 75 Questions of Words 78 Part II Acts of Resistance: Against the Tyranny of the Market 83 To the Reader 85 The Left Hand and the Right Hand of the State 86 Sollers tel quel 94 The Status of Foreigners: A Shibboleth 97 Abuse of Power by the Advocates of Reason 100 The Train Driver's Remark 102 Against the Destruction of a Civilization 104 The Myth of "Globalization" and the European Welfare State 108 The Thoughts of Chairman Tietmeyer 121 Social Scientists, Economic Science, and the Social Movement 127 For a New Internationalism 133 Return to Television 141 The Government Finds the People Irresponsible 147 Job Insecurity Is Everywhere Now 149 The Protest Movement of the Unemployed, a Social Miracle 155 The Negative Intellectual 158 Neoliberalism, the Utopia (Becoming a Reality) of Unlimited Exploitation 160 Part III Firing Back: Against the Tyranny of the Market 2 171 Letter to the American Reader 173 Preface 175 For a Scholarship with Commitment 179 The Imposition of the American Model and Its Effects 186 The Invisible Hand of the Powerful 191 Against the Policy of Depoliticization 200 For a European Social Movement 212 Grains of Sand 220 Culture Is in Danger 222 Unite and Rule 234 Part IV Interviews and New Acts of Resistance 245 For a Real Mobilization of Organized Forces 247 For a Permanent Organization of Resistance to the New World Order 251 The Intellectual Is Not Ethically Neutral 255 A Sociologist in the World 261 Epilogue: Remembering Pierre Bourdieu Craig Calhoun 279 Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson's Translator's Note: On Television 288 References 291 Notes 295 Permissions 309

The seminal writings of America’s leading philosopher, linguist, and political thinker—“the foremost gadfly of our national conscience” (The New York Times). For the past fifty years Noam Chomsky’s writings on politics and language have established him as a preeminent public intellectual as well as one of the most original political and social critics of our time. Among the seminal figures in linguistic theory over the past century, Chomsky has also secured a place among the most influential dissident voice in the United States. Chomsky’s many bestselling works—including Manufacturing Consent, Hegemony or Survival, Understanding Power, and Failed States—have served as essential touchstones for activists, scholars, and concerned citizens on subjects ranging from the media and intellectual freedom to human rights and war crimes. In particular, Chomsky’s scathing critique of the US wars in Vietnam, Central America, and the Middle East have furnished a widely accepted intellectual premise for antiwar movements for nearly four decades. The Essential Chomsky assembles the core of his most important writings, including excerpts from his most influential texts over the past half century. Here is an unprecedented, comprehensive overview of the thought that animates “one of the West’s most influential intellectuals in the cause of peace” (The Independent). “Chomsky ranks with Marx, Shakespeare, and the Bible as one of the ten most quoted sources in the humanities—and is the only writer among them still alive.” —The Guardian “Noam Chomsky is one of the most significant challengers of unjust power and delusions; he goes against every assumption about American altruism and humanitarianism.” —Edward Said “A rebel without a pause.” —Bono