Chomsky notebook

360 Pages·2010·5.065 MB·English

by  Bricmont, Jean;Franck, Julie;Chomsky, Noam

chomsky notebook
Columbia Themes in Philosophy
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columbia themes in philosophy
Series Editor: Akeel Bilgrami, Johnsonian Professor of Philosophy, Columbia University
Columbia Themes in Philosophy is a new series with a broad and accommodating thematic
reach as well as an ecumenical approach to the outdated disjunction between analytical and
European philosophy. It is committed to an examination of key themes in new and startling
ways and to the exploration of new topics in philosophy.
Edward Said, H umanism and Democratic Criticism
Michael Dummett, T ruth and the Past
John Searle, Freedom and Neurobiology: Refl ections on Free Will, Language, and Political Power
Daniel Herwitz and Michael Kelly, eds., A ction, Art, History: Engagements with Arthur C. Danto

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c h o m s k y

n o t e b o o k
jean bricmont julie franck
Edited by +
C
columbia university press new york
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Columbia University Press
Publishers Since 1893
New York Chichester, West Sussex
Originally published in French as C homsky , copyright © Éditions de l’Herne 2007
Chapters 3, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 17 translated by William McCuaig.
Translation and new material copyright © 2010 Columbia University Press
All rights reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Chomsky. English
Chomsky notebook / edited by Jean Bricmont and Julie Franck.
p. cm. — (Columbia themes in philosophy)
Originally published in French as Chomsky.
Includes bibliographical references.
isbn 978-0-231-14474-2 (cloth : alk. paper) — isbn 978-0-231-14475-9 (pbk. : alk. paper) —
isbn 978-0-231-51778-2 (e-book)
1. Chomsky, Noam — Philosophy. 2. Chomsky, Noam — Political and social views. 3. Linguistics.
4. World politics — 1989– I. Chomsky, Noam. II. Bricmont, J. (Jean) III. Franck, Julie. IV. Title.
p85.c47c4513 2010
410'.92—dc22
2009023929
Columbia University Press books are printed on permanent and durable acid-free paper.
This book is printed on paper with recycled content.
Printed in the United States of America

c 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
p 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

References to Internet Web sites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing. Neither the author
nor Columbia University Press is responsible for URLs that may have expired or changed since the
manuscript was prepared.
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c o n t e n t s
part i. chomsky
1. The Mysteries of Nature: How Deeply Hidden?
Noam Chomsky 3
2. The Great Soul of Power: Said Memorial Lecture
Noam Chomsky 34
part ii. introductions
3. Chomsky, France, Reason, Power
Jean Bricmont and Julie Franck 53
4. An Interview with Noam Chomsky
Jean Bricmont 7 4
part iii. linguistic theory and language processes
5. The Varying Aims of Linguistic Theory
Cedric Boeckx and Norbert Hornstein 115
6. Language, Thought, and Reality After Chomsky
Gennaro Chierchia 142
7. Generative Syntax in the Brain
Yosef Grodzinsky 170
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vi contents
part iv. cognitive science and the philosophy of mind
8. Learning Organs
Charles R. Gallistel 193
9. Innateness, Choice, and Language
Elizabeth Spelke 203
10. The Scope and Limits of Chomsky’s Naturalism
Pierre Jacob 211
part v. chomsky and the intelligentsia
11. Conspiracy:
When Journalists (and Their Favorites) Misrepresent the
Critical Analysis of the Media
Serge Halimi and Arnaud Rindel 239
12. Noam Chomsky and the University
Pierre Guerlain 258
13. The Practice of Intellectual Self-Defense in the University
Normand Baillargeon 283
14. Chomsky, Faurisson, and Vidal-Naquet
Jean Bricmont 292
15. Chomsky and Bourdieu: A Missed Encounter
Frédéric Delorca 309
part vi. politics: theory and practice
16. Chomsky in France:
The Resistance to Pragmatic Anti-Authoritarianism
Larry Portis 319
17. Testimony
Susan George 331
18. Truth, Balance, and Freedom
Akeel Bilgrami 334
List of Contributors 349
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chomsky notebook
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part i
chomsky
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