In this age of massive misinformation and polarization, let us all share in the responsibility to actively work to turn walls sideways and build bridges, to heal and transform within ourselves the obstacles that we build against love, to speak the truth and expose the lies, and to grow in wisdom, consciousness, and love. The greater our capacity to know and speak the truth, and while also exposing the lies, the greater our capacity to heal and transform ourselves and our beautiful hurting world. We're all in this together. — Molly
By Justin Brown
Have you ever heard of Noam Chomsky?
If not, you might be surprised to hear that he is one of the most quoted scholars in history. The NY times also described him as the “top intellectual alive”.
Considering his groundbreaking theories on linguistic psychology and politics, why haven’t the majority of the American population heard of him?
The answer is simple. He goes against mainstream thought and has frequently criticized the actions of the US government and mainstream media.
As most of us consume our information through mainstream media, it’s easy to see why he isn’t as popular as he should be.
Below are some Noam Chomsky quotes. It is a selection of his most biting quotes on society, politics and human life.
Table of Contents
- On Ideas
- On Education
- On Keeping the Population Passive
- On Creating a Better Future
- On Terrorism
- On Life, Humanity, and Hope
- On Authority
- On Science
- On Capitalism
- On Our Responsibility
- On Politics and Elections
- On The Media
- On Whether You Should Vote For Clinton or Trump
A glimpse into the quotes:
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 - even encourage the more critical and dissident views. That gives people the sense that there's free thinking going on, while all the time the presuppositions of the system are being reinforced by the limits put on the range of the debate.
The mass media serve as a system for communicating messages and symbols to the general populace. It is their function to amuse, entertain, and inform, and to inculcate individuals with the values, beliefs, and codes of behavior that will integrate them into the institutional structures of the larger society. In a world of concentrated wealth and major conflicts of class interest, to fulfill this role requires systematic propaganda.
As long as the general population is passive, apathetic, diverted to consumerism or hatred of the vulnerable, then the powerful can do as they please, and those who survive will be left to contemplate the outcome.
I think it only makes sense to seek out and identify structures of authority, hierarchy, and domination in every aspect of life, and to challenge them; unless a justification for them can be given, they are illegitimate, and should be dismantled, to increase the scope of human freedom.
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.
Please go here for the original:
https://ideapod.com/35-noam-chomsky-quotes-will-make-question-everything-society/
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