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Originally posted by finboy: I agree, that's the problem. What DOES his politics have to do with his job as a scientist? Nothing. If he wouldn't use his prestigious position as a scientist to promote his ranting political views, that would be OK. Instead, he trades on his legitimate success in his field to propagandize about other things and draw attention to his cause, except that his opinion is just that -- not the opinion of an expert or responsible authority in the political arena. And yes, that's what's wrong with academia. Along with the "you're with me or else" mentality that Chomsky represents. When I look around for "free-thinking" I certainly don't look to the American Left. |
So he rants on politics in his Linguistics books? He preaches politics in his lectures on linguistics? Is that the accussation?
Or are you saying that the overwhelming celebrity status of being a Linguist affords him a prominent platform from which to rant? We all know how the little girls swoon over Linguists.
Or is it that when he's asked to speak at a Linguistics conference that he launches into political diatribes?
I think Chomsky keeps his profession and politics pretty clearly separated. He wouldn't keep his cushy job if he didn't.
Sometimes he is invited to speak as a scientist. Other times he is invited to speak as a political activist. If he mixed the two, I doubt he'd have audiences for very long. He also seems to have no trouble dividing the two in his writing. The books are clearly marked.
Hell, I'd say quite a few of the people I know that love Chomsky's politics didn't know anything about his professional life or work. The idea that one is some kind of platform for the other is pretty far fetched.
I'm also constantly amazed when you're upset that people speaking out in the "political arena" don't meet your qualifications. In a democracy, everyone is allowed to be a political activist. In fact, in a healthy democracy everyone should be a political activist.
I'm also curious what your definition of "free thinking" is and why no one on the "Left" would qualify?
Seem to recall that your job is in Academia. Get the hell out of the poltical forum then and stop spouting your unqualified nonsense! Or are you just jealous that you don't draw the same kind of crowd or get the same attention?