Noam Chomsky: The Stony Brook Interviews Part Two

[DazedAndConfused61]

In my view, this is the most fascinating interview with Chomsky on the internet.

Thanks for the upload!

[AnotherMasterMind]

This is great. It reminds me of Asian myths depicting the student challenging the master and learning greater wisdom from it. 

[thechadwasgreat]

i have a headache

[katheryncruz24]

i'm impressed

[NU13NU13NU13]

MIX MASTER MIC AND NO ONE DOES IT BETTER THAN MIX MASTER CHOAMSKY

[NU13NU13NU13]

SUCH SIMPLE MINDED SCUM

[NU13NU13NU13]

^GAD^ GENERIC ASSOCIATION DISORDER

[NU13NU13NU13]

THE MEANING OF LIFE IS PI

PI AS IN THE ROUND

THE ROUND WAS DENOUNCED TO THIS SYMBOL + WHICH WHEN GIVEN AN AXIS CAN BE RECREATED TO A FULL CIRCLE, YET SCIENTIFICALLY IT IS NEVER FULLY ROUND

FROM BLACK TO LIGHT

[NU13NU13NU13]

COME TO MY FEET NOAM COME! COME NOW COME HERE TO MY FEET COME IM WAITING COME BOW DOWN TO MY FEET NOAM COME RIP NOAM CHOMPSKI

[NU13NU13NU13]

@NU13NU13NU13 JK I MEAN NO DISREPECT MR NOAM CHOMPSKI

[NU13NU13NU13]

GO HOME GO OUT GO HERE GO THERE GO EVERYWHERE

GO BACK

GO THAT WAY

GO THIS WAY

PROFESSOR OF GERUND LINGUISTICS AND MASTER OF ALL

[2011freedomisreal]

Ludlow's questions sound like they were just out of a book with no real thought behind them. "Let's just move onto another question because you keep shooting down everything I say" It's like he asked them because they sounded smart. Don't get me wrong i'm an idiot and would never be able to have an intelligent conversation with either one of these guys but I do understand what's being said.

[AleichemSholem]

Chomsky lacks the dialectical thinking, the philosophical originality, something which you can find in original thinkers such as Wittgenstein for instance.

[Krelianx]

..."to REALLY understand it" doesn't help obviously either, since folk science and science have not been distinguished in terms of the understanding.

[Krelianx]

I think Chomsky drops the ball here when asked to justify the distinction between real and abstract entities. He says 'real' is honorific, but then proceeds to say rationality is 'real', so that it's not merely a case of adding emphasis (as in his formulation: "it's the Real truth". He means more. If merely honorific, does this mean that the scientific enterprise is simply an 'emphasized' qualification of 'how the world works'? Is it only emphasis that grounds the opposition to folk science?

[GeneralJakass]

Such a good interview. What's the song played in the intro?

[AleichemSholem]

@GeneralJakass Mendelssohn's Violin Quartet

[fastballonly]

This guy Peter Ludlow was not a proper pick as the interviewer here, I don't think.

He does not seem to have enough grasp of what Chomsky is talking about, though it is no easy stuff.

I would love to see this whole interview redone by Brian Magee.

[xXfsasXx]

i wish i could understand what they are talking about, half of the words are beyond my vocabulary :\

[owenhunt]

@xXfsasXx I didn't find myself so much alienated by the vocabulary used in this session as much as my perception of discussion was thwarted by the pace they talked at.

[duffifi]

"Chomsky is by far the brightest person on the planet." I think that's an apples and oranges proposition (some people would say this about the mathematical physicist Ed Witten, but it's hard to make direct comparisons). Chomsky is indeed very impressive: always on top of the subjects on which he speaks, very clear, very articulate, able to follow the subtlest allusions with ease, and seemingly never confused. I feel sorry for his interlocutor, who doesn't stand a chance!

[abortfailure7646]

chomsky = hitchens x 10^100000000000000000000000000­0000000000000000

thats about as close as they get! In case youre a bit slow, that means it would take that many hitchens to equal one chomsky.

[urcritic]

A beautiful mind

[GaryGeckDotCom]

Chomsky is blunt...he says what others know but wouldn't dare...that is his best quality isn't it?

[Starkstraight]

Unparalleled whirlwind of knowledge.

[mntlPurple]

Is that guitar hero in the background?

[alicapwn]

@MrDrFuzzle

wtf are you talking about you dumbass?

[Dymdez]

This man is trembling in fear that he will look inferior as every question he asks gets stomped.

[joeboswell]

I love how insanely far ahead of the questions he is... Watching him speak is always a pleasure, the depth and acuity of his mind is staggering.

[RanpatMcMurphy]

This would be a snack if you were studying Quantum Mechanics.

[richardtheteague]

@RanpatMcMurphy Or quantum mechanics would be a snack if you could successfully tackle the probs of philosophy!

[TempestDust]

Aristotle, Plato or Voltaire had it easy. They were great thinkers with the world before them who were not subjected to and distracted by the sick news and entertainment media society of today. Noam Chomsky has experienced almost the entire 20th century, has been debating far dumber puppets and critics for decades and still, he has kept his mind clear and receptive enough to describe reality as far and as well as a human possibly could. He seems to be the only truly unbiased scholar in media.

[Tyrfingr]

@TempestDust The older thinkers had plenty of adversities to combat as well. but you have to read alot of history to understand it. There's not enough characters for me to put it all in one single youtube post.

[CheStillFighting]

i feel so many iq points below what I should be when i listen to Chomsky, so so many iq points below him. whereas normally i feel so much smarter than most people i talk to haha and i feel like a genius when i think of something smart. just listening to this interview knocked me down a few pegs. a few million pegs.

[ohkeepa321]

What is the name of the Chomsky book that they keep referring to during the discussion?

[Cosbibi]

@ohkeepa321 Chomsky and his critics

[ohkeepa321]

@Cosbibi Thanks

[SuperMultifly]

why does this stick at 33:25??

[SuperMultifly]

and 44:27 .. is it just me?

[oares00]

Simply one of the few Master Minds for a better world!

[weedipikia]

38:00 The interviewer needs to be more like this kid. When you think Chomsky's done and he continues to go on you should just be like "ooh, more Chomsky".

[FukCommando]

i feel so stupid watching this, at least i understand his view on politics more though!

[FaaarLeft]

The word "morality" itself is not an honorific term, but if I were to say: "this is a moral act," it would be honorific. I think they're actually misusing the word.

Ludlow obviously wasn't listening when he re-asked the question about the existence of language "in an informal sense". Davidson was referring to a "community of language" outside the human mind. What a dolt.

[GanzLONDON]

@FaaarLeft What should I do to understand what Chomsky is saying and why is so important.

Do you know ? Please ! I am fighting against my ignorance here.

[FaaarLeft]

@GanzLONDON You shouldn't be too concerned. This discussion is relatively technical and even I was surprised to hear Chomsky speak is this way.

If this discipline interests you, you might like reading Bertrand Russell's "Problems of Philosophy". It's an accessible introduction into many of the problems discussed here.

[architect333]

what is Chomsky talking about? i'm so stupid lol, is he the only scientific political activist?

[stoprainingonme]

@architect333 Jean Bricmont - A Belgian physicist. I first heard of him when he, Chomsky and a couple of others appeared on a UN panel answering questions from journalists. Search for Chomsky & Friends [sic - since one of the panelists was an Australian politican that Chomsky clearly detested] Responsability to Protect.

[WastedTourist]

Technical Philosophy. ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[matchbox555]

chomsky is ok, but not as intellectual as sarah palin

[spacerumsfeld]

@matchbox555 Agreed.

[caradeescusado]

@matchbox555 hm............chomsky and palin are both brilliant....its impossible to decide.

[dendryite]

Wow. I'm going to favorite this for a "rainy day." It's not only the brilliance but the gentleness of this man that's spellbinding. He has knowledge as well as being, which equates to true wisdom.

I hope we are graced by his presence for many more years.

[ReX342]

What's the word? Cosnogative? What?

[GreatGrumbledook]

Now, Chomsky, do I turn to thee, and mark my greeting well; for what I speak my body shall make good upon this earth, or my divine soul answer it in heaven. Thou art a traitor and a miscreant, too good to be so and too bad to live, since the more fair and crystal is the sky, the uglier seem the clouds that in it fly. Once more, the more to aggravate the note, with a foul traitor's name stuff I thy throat; and wish, ere I move, what my tongue speaks my right drawn sword may prove.

[rabbitwho]

Oh my god this interviewer... I admire Chomsky all the more for tolerating him.

[boobtuber06]

oh, man Chomsky's cult of personality died before he did... you don't fool me, you fraud.

[delator33]

Anybody can put subtitles in spanish to some of this videos, im filosophy student and i need some traductions obout this videos Thanks

[sumitgill]

As someone with zero knowledge of linguistics, that went right over my head.

[FaaarLeft]

27:08 "Well, but that's what he's talking about." Funny.

[pauloabelha]

Why doesn't he mention Jean Piaget's work when he answers the question on the architecture of the mind...?

He should.

[pauloabelha]

I can barely hear him... :(

[artemis7114]

Who is the idiot interviewer? Chomsky in the first 10 minutes is simply trying to explain the fundamentals of critical analysis and contextual thinking; define x before attempting to deduce content or findings (theory) in the realm of the technical / content discussion. This guy is a twit.

[fdambra]

at least its entertaining

[shamantrixx]

Oh I agree... the interviewer is dumb as dum is.

[JustifiedMurderer]

Whoo Hoo....pygm ies!

[ToquiGambit]

I would listen to Chomsky all day, all week, all year long!!!

I will feel miserable the day he stops being with us. But his words will live forever. Those of us that are free from the 5th date garbage given to us by Fox News will be here to spread his word.

[EvanWells1]

We have a massive responsibility.

[solysoly89]

how right you are pal!

[InternetPolice1000]

I have to agree the smartest man ive ever come across I could listen to this man none stop. Noboby has ever inspired me and opened my own mind like he has. Even when his wrong (not offen) I still learn something.

[davef89]

chomsky has to be the greatest mind of all time. i am always stunned at his depth of knowledge and how clear he can explain things!

[owenhunt]

@davef89 Francis Bacon and James Clerk Maxwell are decent rivals to that. Plato too must have possessed quite a mind.

[xpressivist]

Chomsky is so brilliant as ever. Yeah, we love you Chomsky.

[alistairproductions]

Can someone explain this to me? I'm trying to figure it out but I confess I'm a little lost this time around

[siyahzumrut]

Chomsky I love you very much..

[saxengee]

although I may have had too much red wine this evening and can't compute such important matters :p

[saxengee]

i LOVE the Chom, but I find this whole conversation of philosophy rather unengaging and boring..

I wish I could have a philosophical conversation with the Chom. I'd go back to ancient greece rather than these over intellectual, impoten,t competitive grievances..

[TheJulienT]

I don;t think its possible to 'discuss' anything with Chomsky. He discusses, everyone else just listens.lol.

[TheJulienT]

amazing..this man, this thinker, this professor actually just explained in a scientific manner what I have been saying for years...names and things are two different things...wolves in sheep clothing beware of thyself...

Chomsky for President!

[truenorthcorn]

22:04, 1979 lol.

[Lion117]

but gentle too.

[Lion117]

Noam Chomsky appears calm, thoughtful and Solemn in his Body language.

[WardenMars]

Mark my words... Chomsky will, in the future, be a kind of a "New Enlightment" thinker. Just as Voltaire is regarded now, Chomsky will be regarded as such in the future. The way Voltaire exposed Monarchy and it's fundamentally flawed ideology, Chomsky expose-d/s the Mass Media and their fundamentally flawed ideology. That is, the creation of the illusion of "freedom" in a "democratic" society. The illusion that major decisions are being taken democratically and with the consent of the people.

[Algonkianist]

I agree, its funny if you read about the history of Anthropology, Economics or Sociology you'll find that people like John Stuart Mill couldn't get published in lots of main stream journals in the 19th century, because of his belief that white people weren't inherently superior to black people which meant he was totally off the intellectual spectrum. Chomsky's views on U.S. foreign policy I think are similar that way.

[afbrino9]

Well said, I completely agree.

[masteryehudi]

shrewd prediction, given that Chomsky is world's preeminent linguist and political philosopher...

[bluntman007]

@WardenMars Voltaire? The guy who thought Democracy was only good for propagating the idiocy of the masses. Me thinks you need to pick a better opposite.

[boobtuber06]

@bluntman007 methinks he needs to pick another contemporary intellectual hero.

[DanMorgan98]

@WardenMars He is already is regarded as such.

[andyx1205]

@WardenMars Chomsky is the rightful successor of Bertrand Russell imo.

The elite world greatly dislikes Chomsky and presents him as an outcast, which is the same treatment that many individuals who we today refer to as "thinkers of the Enlightenment" had underwent

[RayAtheist]

that's why I think philosophy is a load of shit

[Algonkianist]

Jesus Christ he doesn't let the other guy get a word out hahaha, this is why I study phonology and phonetics.

[henpage]

excellent questions and excellent answers.

top post.

[TheOtherView]

Chomsky is by far the brightest person on the planet. He is masterful in so many domains, it's absolutely fascinating.

[rucio2]

Yes, most of the things he says about linguistics are at least debatable and everything he says about politics is exactly what many other people has been saying for years and years.

Having him as the figure he seems to represent says everything about the world. If that's what you mean i agree with you.

[owenhunt]

@TheOtherView Hardest working intellect yes, most intelligent? No. He transcends the need to be anyhow.

[boxingaddict25]

@TheOtherView - I think Christopher Hitchens is on par with Chomsky.

[TheOtherView]

@boxingaddict25

His political thinking is so absurd...and so are his arguments about the superiority of a non-theist culture

[boxingaddict25]

@TheOtherView - Absurd? Hardly. Give some examples if you're going to make such baseless accusations. He's been voted into the top 5 of public intellectuals in the world for a reason. What's absurd are theists like you.

[iggypopbowie77]

@TheOtherView

So absurd?No, you're simply too stupid to to be able to comprehend the thoughts of an intelligent human being.

[covertcovenant]

Well to me it seems as if Sklar is having a seriously difficult time trying to ask any question's because Chomsky is already 100 steps ahead, Chomsky can almost read Uri's simplicity before he voices any questions. At least appears that way to me...

[JonathanM00r3]

Wow! This is fantastic! Thanks for the post!

[LimpLoser]

why dont they ever ask him well thought out( good) questions? why is it, that Chomsky only ever gets asked half baked questions?

[NAes12]

I know what you mean but it generally doesn't matter. Even if he is asked a dumb question he says something moderately enlightening about some aspect of history that I had no knowledge about.

[ZombieJesusBrainz]

He is getting asked some seriously well thought out questions! He asked him about putnam, which is like the most important paper in philosophy in 30 years, and he just gave a 50 word dismissal of its conclusion!!!! Its just that chomsky makes it look simple and unthought out! In truth these questions have the best minds working on them.

[mephatboi]

but the best minds in that field cant compare w/ "the chomskinator," lol

he is like the gr8 unraveler, str8ening out balls of confusion ppl have in their minds & making complicated stuff seem mundane

[xieyalong]

Can someone tell me what the name of the intro-music is?

[LeonardandPaul]

I love Noam. he is great. i have heard about this .have u seen the evolution of song yet? we sing and play the instruments starting at chant and working our way up tp present day music in just 8 minutes. its on our channel if u get a moment. thanks for posting the chomskinator

[edictseven]

I keep watching the intro over and over thinking that Ludlow, when he mentions all of the philosophers Chomsky has engaged with, will say:

"He's had lively exchanges with, for example, Willard van Orman Quine, HIlary Putnam, Donald Davidson, Saul Kripke, John Searle, Michael Dummet, and now . . . me."

[leballin05]

lol

[dstrbo13]

nodnod heh

[fregelover]

It's Urizenus Sklar!

[CrosshairJack]

Chomsky is the man!

[itsthemechanic]

mind asplode o.O

[nellenmellen]

I have no clue about half of what these two are talking about. What was that term Chomsky keeps using "tekistitopics"? Hopefully this was a talk given with the presupposition it was infront of a Linguistics adept audience?

[espmil]

It's a tachistoscope. It's used to display an image for a very short time.

[boing3887]

not linguistics so much as analytic philosophy. im a college student who's taking philosophy of the mind and logic and all that so i understand some of it. but yeah, basic philosophy classes suffice

[tokotokotoko3]

Kinda funny at 50:50 - he says "no no" but you see him nodding and smiling. A second later you see the real footage of him shaking his head. Maybe they edited it to make him look more positve ;)

[t0kt0k]

Haha what is up with this interviewer?

[Chomskyan]

he was a former student of Noam's I think.

[vulcan2541]

former student of chomsky & professor of philosophy (at michigan, toronto, northwestern at various times). very well-respected.

aka urizenus sklar, but that's not why he's interviewing chomsky =P

[heyitspeter]

Yeah I feel kind of feel bad for him. I had to read most of his anthology called "Readings in the Philosophy of Language" and his introduction (and some of the included readings) made him come across as a little naiive. He's one of those philosophers who loves science but has no idea how it works. Ignorance leads to bliss leads to blind optimism leads to obsequiousness.