Some of my favorite writers are philosophers. Fred Nietzsche was one. Most people don’t really get Fred, but in my opinion, he was a very entertaining writer. And for a philosopher of German ilk, he is very readable not like say Hegel, which no one can understand. Dostoevsky is another favorite writer/Philosopher. But I ‘digest’…I wanted to to talk about Dr. Noam Chomsky.
Although Chomsky ‘made his bones’ as a linguist coming up with stuff like generative grammars, to me he is a powerful critical thinker and social Critic as well as a pretty fair Philosopher.
I got to Noam thru Jean Baudrillard. I got to Baudrillard from the film “The Matrix” which was based on his book “Simulacra and Simulation.” The connection is that they are both Linguists or to use a more specific “symbol”, Semioticians. Other Semioticians include Ferdinand de Saussere, Claude Levi-Strauss and Charles Peirce.
Much argument is around regarding what exactly constitutes a “Semiotician.” OK. Someone who studies and practises Semiotics. Simple enough. You may be asking yourself, “Self, what the hell is Semiotics?” The short answer: Semiotics is the study of Signs and Symbols and their relevant meaning in society. According to some people, Semiotics is a philosophy and Linquistics is a sub-category.
The ‘movement’ in contemporary philosophy to a more Linguistic Analytical approach to ’solving’ arguments… both classical and modern…arguably gives the Semiotician an edge–Particularly in the case where the popular Media Culture and the Government seemingly change terms in mid-sentence.
My buddy Noam has the chops to get to the heart of the matter!
Chomsky has written alot of stuff and I think its all good, but the one work I’d like to talk about is: “MEDIA CONTROL:The Spectacular Achievements Of Propaganda.” This is an easy read and I think it should be in any practicing Intellectual’s bookshelf. In this pamphlet, Noam talks about what might be regarded as the scenarios of a Conspiracy Nut in America going back to WWI! Laying out the Machiavellian designs of the Media to achieve “Manufactured Consent” and control of the “bewildered herd,” Chomsky amazes us with fact and insight. This is dangerous stuff! All the terrors of a fascist regime can be “excused” through the power of the Media and its influence on the mob. And yes, this has and is happening right here in America! Once one has studied Semiotics and becomes familiar with the concepts, this dangerous stuff makes perfect sense and is then removed from the realm of the ridiculous to reality of the sublime.
To quote another writer and pop conspiricist, Anton Wilson…”Everything you know is wrong!”
2008
Featured Author: Noam Chomsky
by Mike Ryan
Some of my favorite writers are philosophers. Fred Nietzsche was one. Most people don’t really get Fred, but in my opinion, he was a very entertaining writer. And for a philosopher of German ilk, he is very readable not like say Hegel, which no one can understand. Dostoevsky is another favorite writer/Philosopher. But I ‘digest’…I wanted to to talk about Dr. Noam Chomsky.
Although Chomsky ‘made his bones’ as a linguist coming up with stuff like generative grammars, to me he is a powerful critical thinker and social Critic as well as a pretty fair Philosopher.
I got to Noam thru Jean Baudrillard. I got to Baudrillard from the film “The Matrix” which was based on his book “Simulacra and Simulation.” The connection is that they are both Linguists or to use a more specific “symbol”, Semioticians. Other Semioticians include Ferdinand de Saussere, Claude Levi-Strauss and Charles Peirce.
Much argument is around regarding what exactly constitutes a “Semiotician.” OK. Someone who studies and practises Semiotics. Simple enough. You may be asking yourself, “Self, what the hell is Semiotics?” The short answer: Semiotics is the study of Signs and Symbols and their relevant meaning in society. According to some people, Semiotics is a philosophy and Linquistics is a sub-category.
The ‘movement’ in contemporary philosophy to a more Linguistic Analytical approach to ’solving’ arguments… both classical and modern…arguably gives the Semiotician an edge–Particularly in the case where the popular Media Culture and the Government seemingly change terms in mid-sentence.
My buddy Noam has the chops to get to the heart of the matter!
Chomsky has written alot of stuff and I think its all good, but the one work I’d like to talk about is: “MEDIA CONTROL:The Spectacular Achievements Of Propaganda.” This is an easy read and I think it should be in any practicing Intellectual’s bookshelf. In this pamphlet, Noam talks about what might be regarded as the scenarios of a Conspiracy Nut in America going back to WWI! Laying out the Machiavellian designs of the Media to achieve “Manufactured Consent” and control of the “bewildered herd,” Chomsky amazes us with fact and insight. This is dangerous stuff! All the terrors of a fascist regime can be “excused” through the power of the Media and its influence on the mob. And yes, this has and is happening right here in America! Once one has studied Semiotics and becomes familiar with the concepts, this dangerous stuff makes perfect sense and is then removed from the realm of the ridiculous to reality of the sublime.
To quote another writer and pop conspiricist, Anton Wilson…”Everything you know is wrong!”
Read on and become wise to the guise…
Technorati Tags: Chomsky