A Conversation with Professor Noam Chomsky Part 2

This Q&A session is a follow-up to "A Conversation with Professor Noam Chomsky," a New York City Bar Association program that took place on April 13, 2023 - • A Conversation with Pr...
Professor Noam Chomsky is the author of more than 150 books, Professor Emeritus at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Laureate Professor of Linguistics at the University of Arizona.

[@michaelrch]

Chomsky is the most important intellectual of the last 50 years. He is the most clear, insightful concise and decent thinker in our society. His work is incredibly powerful and truly revelatory. Thank you Professor for your tireless work helping make the world a better place. Also lovely to hear him chuckle at the end of the interview 😀❤️

[@jannichi6431]

Well said, not enough kind words for Noam Chomsky that I can muster. All love and respect. Glad he is easing his work load and looking so much better today💖

[@leovar6955]

Noam Chomsky one of the biggest mind in recent history

[@TerriblePerfection]

And not so recent history...

[@leovar6955]

@@TerriblePerfection You are right!

[@micnorton9487]

​@@leovar6955 ..yeah but the woman interviewing him is a real hottie lol...

[@moksja667]

And friends with Epstein! What a good guy! 😂

[@Roofers-Nail-Hardest]

He eats w Epstein. He’s a creep

[@sylvanwoods5271]

Some of our leaders most definitely should be brought to prosecution for war crimes, including George Bush. It's unfortunate that publicly we can't find main stream voices that would support this action. The U.S. really does need to face its crimes against humanity. I so appreciate Professor Chomsky for his continued work to advocate for change.

[@BolasDaGrk]

According to Noam Chomsky, it has been practically all Presidents since Regan and still not excluding prior Presidents atrocious crimes.

[@tmh7057]

Thank you, Professor Chomsky! All the world needs your thoughts. Thank you!!

[@GnosticJ]

Maybe Chopski would like to tell us what it was He and Jeffrey Epstein were talking about at their dinners..?

[@dooo0000]

Pls don’t represent the world

[@JAB6434]

@@GnosticJ Hey, he tells us it's none of our business. He told me in an email that when he met Shlepstein, he had served his time and "had a clean slate," despite him having had to register as a sex offender. Chompers' response? Our culture spends too much time on issues involving sex and that I must not like people who have been in prison.

[@tonyburton419]

This man is a living legend ❤ Thanks

[@radscorpion8]

1:30:20. I suggest you read my comment above, Chomsky is behaving in a spectacularly illogical fashion!

[@tonyburton419]

@@radscorpion8 I do not agree with everything Chomsky now states, but I would make allowances for a guy of his age and stature.

[@johnmaisonneuve9057]

I’ve listen many many interviews with Prof. Chomsky and always learn new things, views, etc. Also have read many of his books. Super.

[@petestevens3970]

Thank you.

[@urosssss]

Thank you, professor. You are a gift to society.

[@reginalewilliams4472]

I wish I could have been his friend in the late 60s and 70s.

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

I got a nice long email from Noam in 2001. I save it. I've since had a few brief email replies with him. I did spend a couple years just reading his books - in the mid 1990s - and I cited his books for my activist volunteer work and also graduate research.

[@BolasDaGrk]

Careful what you wish for. Many have died as activists in America during Chomsky's peak in 60's/70s. Now everyone is in line because they are far more politically hopeless, fed well and entertained. Something resembling domesticated animals with a remote control.

[@goaliemojo4310]

Loved this time with Mr. Chomsky. Thanks for a great list of questions. Do you guys know how he is doing at the moment? I haven't seen any recent interviews for the last couple months. Slightly worried. When he goes, part of the human soul does too.

[@califcamper]

Thank you Noam

[@sotosdemetriou3070]

The wiser man on the earth

[@jackwilliams3343]

I listen to Noam and feel so helpless and the situation so hopeless.

[@philosopher2king]

He's always done that, it's like talking to an end of days Jehovah's Witness. Chomsky only really appeals to the far (far) left, for a reason; while he is right in some of his criticisms of Western/American hegemony, you cannot make that the conclusion to every argument.

[@jannichi6431]

He's to old and wise to be 'Far' anything. Warnings in elders are beneficial to avoid past mistakes.

[@philosopher2king]

@@jannichi6431 And yet, he's been a far-left kook that not even The Young Turks will have him on.

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

@@philosopher2king It's pretty obvious that you first have to deal with the reality of the problem in order to properly solve it. Chomsky doesn't realize just how about the ecological crisis is - but he's pretty close.

[@JAB6434]

That is what I long ago concluded. In a debate he and I had in 1991 in the pages of the long deceased National Guardian, out of New York, I charged him with making us spectators when history demands we be participants. Nothing has changed. He NEVER mentions Congress and what individuals and groups can do locally that might influence their rep to think twice before bowing to the corporate interests that fund them and every four years when the presidential election rolls around he insists we must support the Democrat.

[@sixdid]

I'm 69 years old I'm wasco tribe sovereign. So I can actually fallow along with this man's historical account I would like to inform this man on a statement made by him that is somewhat miss leading I have contrary experience with emergency room health care it doesn't exist anymore. By the way noam one Man such as yourself carries a grave weight around your neck when speaking and you know that your care with words is noted I have no thing in my heart but love for this man and I hope my two cents helps to inform not take away from what this man speak all good things to you under this son

[@TheGuinever]

If it's any consolation, health care is an absolute JOKE for all but the wealthy in this disastrous colonial fiasco created first by committing genocide, then stealing the land, then sending the survivors into exile and making them refugees, then installing a profit mentality into most institutions, governed by a deranged, patriarchal white supremacist view that has laid waste the planet and all but a very few, those who see themselves as the Masters of Mankind. Time will tell how badly the masses have failed to stop them from annihilating the whole works. We bear some responsibility for that failure.

[@marlenesoifer7219]

Thank-you for contact

[@nikolaosaggelopoulos8113]

I do not know of any other person able to come up on the spot with a well thought out argument on any world affairs topic whatsoever.

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Awesome & Thanks :)

[@barquerojuancarlos7253]

Washington's neocon desires are expressions of "imperial imbecility reaching stratospheric heights" 1:05:20

[@bellaluna730]

Professor’s voice significantly weaker in Part ll. We appreciate your brilliance, thank you for this extended interview.

[@np4653]

It is the microphone or the network. I watched his interview for The Times and the quality was great.

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

voices change all the time - depending on diet, time of day, weather, etc.

[@arlinegeorge6967]

Prof Noam Chomsky who is humanly time and again leading us humans to awaken and live as humans. The new world order is mighty are not only powerful but righteous. In India the educated elite Indian armed forces have done evil deeds on me and when sort help was described mentally insane. Presently handed over to Tashi Namgyal Academy School in Gangtok. Last five years the wisdom of great human Dalai Lama is being used. With results very unfortunate. Hopefully my country will be proving that our god is not only mighty but also righteous. The mighty world order be highly successful in their endeavours. Love and peace to all.

[@NScheckel]

The most brilliant downer alive.

[@Zatzzo]

Thanks! Too bad about the sound issues though

[@DownMichael]

I try to tell my friends to look up anything he's ever said on KZbin. They don't.

[@jannichi6431]

So many of us would like a friend like you🌎🥰

[@edwardjones2202]

Read his books too .that's where the real virtuosity is American Power and the New Mandarins Fateful Triangle Deterring Democracy Year 501 Political Economy of Human Rights I & II Manufacturing Consent Also his essays in the New York Review archive where he takes on all the major liberal intellectuals in the depths of the Vietnam War. Amazing man

[@alvodin6197]

"I have a tough question for you. How can say it's bad when we have more material goods than ever, even poor people have phones? Gadgets such as iPhones have become more accessible, yet half the population live paycheck to paycheck, can't afford health care. The united states' is the only first world country without universal health care and maternity leave." That was a "hard" question lol.

[@jannichi6431]

Young elites, please choose private sector over NGOs, 501(c)s. Your impact/influence and leadership is needed there too.🤓

[@Ink4Breakfast]

For anyone who wants to look at cases of international crimes that Noam speaks of in most of his lectures on international war crimes(usually by the US) there are two main world court bodies called: ICC and ICJ. International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice. The United States isn't a member of the ICJ and abstained from being a member with the 80+ major countries that did. Since the US isn't a member individuals of the United States can't be prosecuted by the ICJ and the US basically ignores every international justice body. Obviously it's because the US would be found guilty for hundreds of Human Rights Violations, Crimes on Humanity, International War Crimes and Numerous counts of Genocide whether the genocide was executed directly or indirectly on the people of those nations. You can look up the international laws, world court documents and how many times the US has been determined by world court bodies to be guilty of War Crimes and Crimes on Humanity. I've seen a ton of questions and confusion about the international record and where to look.

[@indigoblue998]

Suzanne Knijnenburg looks like a dream come true!😮😊

[@tarnopol]

Good upload. I'm 16 minutes in and notice no audio issues, but they may come later. I can only access 360p and below--maybe some of the audio issues (which apparently exist) can be ameliorated with an HD upload? (1080p or up, etc.) That aside, at least so far, it's easy to follow.

[@artlessons1]

Now say something about the discussion other than teck jargon !

[@ashrafjehangirqazi1497]

For clarity of thought, range of relevant background information, profundity of rational analysis, centrality of the moral and humanitarian imperative, and uncompromising fidelity to the political truth as he knows it, Noam Chomsky has no peer.

[@jannichi6431]

YesSireee, so well said, thanks 🙏

[@edwardjones2202]

Agree. Well put

[@mck1972]

IF you define, ' peer ', as having no idea WTF he is talking about in a field that he has never worked in, then yes-That describes Chomsky perfectly! :-D

[@LucianTSkeptic]

Is the terrible audio problem on Chomsky's end? It would seem to be since the problems continue on all his videos, no matter who he's talking to. GET IT FIXED.

[@nonaligned293]

Chomsky's the kind of guy to read dense military studies, other countries laws, thousands of pages of wikileaks published documents etc. And all that for fun. Probably a person with highest amount of information regarding Wolrd affairs bar none.

[@mck1972]

And yet for all of Chomksy's supposed, ' highest amount of information regarding Wolrd affairs bar none. ', he has never actually worked in any position involving the Military, or the Law, that entailed actual responsiblity. As opposed to spending his life merely criticizing others, who do work in such positions, and do have to bear such responsiblity, from the sidelines! Looks like Chomsky has deprived our society of his superior abilities! 😀

[@nonaligned293]

@@mck1972 Think more about what you just wrote. It's really dumb. It's one thing for baker to bake a bread. Another for companies to sell and transport wheat. Another for economists to study and track wheat markets. Politicians make legislation for how the markets are regulated, start and mentain wars that affect them. Chomsky as philosopher and social critic studies all this trying to give a comprehensive summary of where the most power and responsiblity for all the corrupt dealings lies.

[@mck1972]

@@nonaligned293 , LOL In reality, it is You Yourself that needs to be better informed about Chomsky. Then perhaps you would open your eyes to how I stated is 100% accurate. So pay closer attention while I explain again: Claiming that Chomsky is qualified to give a, ‘ comprehensive summary ‘, of fields that he has NEVER actually worked in himself-Which is everything outside Linguistics-Just because he has, ‘ studied ’, selected data about it, is just as absurd as claiming that Chomsky is qualified to coach an NFL team just because he has, ‘ studied ‘, last season’s pro football stats! See how ridiculous that is? 😀 And which also renders Chomsky completely unqualified to properly judge what HE THINKS constitutes, ‘ power and responsiblity for all the corrupt dealings lies ‘. This is the reality about Chomsky! So please open your eyes to this reality-OK?

[@bellaluna730]

Audible quality breaks up during portions of this interview.

[@constantquestioning4010]

Sabotage to dissuade listening?

[@melissakemp2741]

I noticed this too, maybe she's just nervous.

[@Discovery_and_Change]

3:00 Chomsky begins

[@BolasDaGrk]

Conversation: 10/10 Audio: 3/10

[@Andrew-su7vd]

In which part of the American Constitution enshrined Black Slavery ?

[@mrp1924]

The Professor knows everything

[@artur9712]

its incredible, he reminds of Jordan Peterson, not just an expert in his field but an expert in all the other fields too

[@moksja667]

He knows a lot, especially on what went on at Epstein's island.

[@jannichi6431]

Peterson THINKS he knows Everything. Noam checks his ego with facts.

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

@@artur9712 Peterson is barely able to read compared to Chomsky.

[@jascu4251]

@@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885 While this may be true they both aren't just experts in their own fields, but experts in ALL fields, especially the ones in which they are not familiar

[@Iris-sh3th]

OOP!

[@ZackOOria]

He sounds like jigsaw explaining how complicated the game has become in the hands of those controlling American hegemony.

[@usacut6968]

PS. United Nations and accurate information? Are you kidding me?

[@matthewk189]

1:29:42 "let's settle a fundamental point. Is there a single person who has any access to the public Arrangement who believes that aggressors should be punished? There's an easy test for that. Find somebody who thinks that George W Bush should be brought to the ICC and that the United States should be sanctioned. See if you can find one such person. I can't. It therefore follows that there is no one who believes the principles that are proudly proclaimed. It's a pretty significant thing. Everybody pompously issues the noble pronouncements; not a single person believes what they're saying. That's the comment on the entire educated class. So let's put that in the basket when we turn to the next question uh nobody believes the principle. [...] What I said is, is there anyone who can speak in the public sector who believes it? Try to find one statement in the mainstream media, in the international relations literature, in scholarship, in the American Journal of international law, any source you like. Find one statement saying that U.S aggression should be punished. It's a challenged. see if it can do it. I can't. But nobody who has any access to the mainstream in education, scholarship, media believes it."

[@marlenesoifer7219]

One person is not going to do a dent to the percentage you are speaking about

[@JohnDoe-vp9ey]

Such a beautiful girl

[@usacut6968]

Why is it possible to get exact numbers of Covid victims from each country, but no one can give the death toll in the Russia-Ukraine conflict? The Russians have precise figures for their soldiers stationed in the Ukraine, and the Ukraine has precise population figures; Why can't exact death figures be published? Something is wrong here!

[@gmw3083]

The first victim of wore is truth. The psychological phase of Ww3 began with coofid so that data is no good, either. Virus made in a lab. The cure harmed millions. Chomsky got it wrong. He forgot one of his basic tenets. Never trust the gubmint

[@micnorton9487]

It's extremely difficult to get an accurate count from the front of a war zone because there are both deserters and missing... The missing who aren't deserters or languishing in a military hospital are usually blown to pieces and cannot therefore ever be identified... And with the Russians preference of hard shell artillery being their weapon of choice, we can expect an awful lot of missing Ukrainian soldiers.. the Russians for their part probably have extremely precise figures but sees no reason to give them to the West since all the West has done is lie to them up till now... The ukrainians on the other hand I have a feeling don't really care about the soldiers being killed, all they can see is dollar signs from Russian capitulation, which is never going to happen... Every officer in the Ukrainian army realizes he has a Russian price on his head,, and every European country that supplied weapons to kill Russian soldiers is going to have to pay their own sanctions with limited access to Russian energy...

[@DreamteamCarlo]

There are lots of death tolls. Very recently, John Kirby said that 20,000 Russian troops were killed around Bakhmut since December. Only thing is, I don't believe John Kirby's number on that issue. The Russian MoD publishes lists every day about different parts of the frontline. 135 enemy soldiers killed in ... area, 200 killed in ... area. Not total rubbish, but I would not rate these numbers as very accurate either. Admitting (high) casualties is not great for morale or attracting funding, and might inform the enemy. Plus, as Mic Norton said, it's often hard to ascertain exact losses even on ones own side.

[@micnorton9487]

@@DreamteamCarlo ..yeah I don't believe those numbers either,, even 20K TOTAL Russian casualties,, k*lled wounded missing captured,, seems high... I believe the 7:1 Ukrainian: Russian casualty stats because,, that's about the stats from Iraq: American battle stats,, where the Americans absolutely ridiculous superiority in military munitions and tactics made it a bloodbath for the Iraqis... I realize the Ukrainians are no wimps,, they're ferocious but a banzai charge can only go so far until it finds itself in a peculiarly deserted area and then the artillery shells start falling...

[@constantquestioning4010]

500-600,000 Ukrainian, Poland, Nato « mercenaries », Russians dead so far

[@kevincosta4620]

"These demands, however, had always been beside the point. As to negotiations, there is, in fact, very little to negotiate. As long as an American army of occupation remains in Vietnam, the war will continue. ... Those who had been calling for ‘negotiations now’ were deluding themselves and others, just as those who now call for a cease-fire that will leave an American expeditionary force in Vietnam are not facing reality." - Noam Chomsky, 1971 These demands, however, have always been beside the point. As to negotiations, there is, in fact, very little to negotiate. As long as a Russian army of occupation remains in Ukraine, the war will continue. Those who have been calling for ‘negotiations now’ are deluding themselves and others, just as those who now call for a cease-fire that will leave a Russian force in Ukraine are not facing reality. - Kevin Costa, 2023

[@norbetjagamara5536]

Lol even Chomsky knows crypto is a scam

[@geoffreytucker3049]

Aggression has been rewarded especially with regards to empires most of which have failed with the exception of the Russian empire that needs to fail.

[@sahbab1]

Noam says 50 years ago he was "deeply involved in resistance against Indo-China war... and affairs of Latin America...". Is there any chance he can be involved in resistance against Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the death and destruction it is causing right now as he's speaking? Why is he not condemning Russia and demanding that it leaves Ukraine? Can someone please ask him?

[@nikolaosaggelopoulos8113]

Noam Chomsky has condemned Russia's invasion countless times. However, there were negotiations in March 2022 in Istanbul when the two sides had reached something close to full agreement. It involved Russia withdrawing from Ukraine with autonomy or a plebiscite following the peace agreement in regions where there was a significant Russian minority, after the cessation of hostilities. British sources warned the Ukraine government that if they agreed to neutrality (not joining Nato) as part of such an agreement, they should not expect Nato to come to their aid in the future. Then we are crying out for self-determination of the Ukrainian people. What is the alternative, Ukrainians marching to Moscow? Exactly what is the alternative? It is clear what is the position of Noam Chomsky and any rationally thinking person, an end to this war with a bilateral agreement. To condemn only your nation's enemy is not helping in achieving a peaceful settlement. Condemning the illegal acts of your own country might help promote peace.

[@sahbabadii4055]

@@nikolaosaggelopoulos8113 So, it's OK to invade a neighbour, take it's land, demand a peace settlement and keep the land? No, it's not ok. Alternative to war is for Russia to leave Ukraine. Do you not agree?

[@nikolaosaggelopoulos8113]

@@sahbabadii4055 - The proposed agreement at Istanbul and Minsk 2 was not about Russia keeping the land but about the self-determination of Russians of Ukraine as a condition for peace and the withdrawal of the Russian army. Why should that be unfair? Is self-determination not a universal human right? Have not the Scots or the Quebeqouis come close to obtaining independence, the Slovakians and Czechs actually having achieved independence in this way? But it does not mean that the Russians of Ukraine will receive independence, only be given the right to participate in a fair referendum on self-determination / autonomy / possibly independence. The likely outcome will be a federation similar to those of Germany, Spain, UK, Switzerland - I do not see a problem with that, why do you? I remind you that prior to the Russian invasion, the Russian language and Russian-speaking schools had been banned in Ukraine. That is nowhere near self-determination for the Russians of Ukraine. To say so would be grossly unfair and blinkered by our own mainstream propaganda.

[@sahbab1]

@@nikolaosaggelopoulos8113 I hope you're not saying that countries can invade each other if they disagree on issues of mutual concern. My position is absolutely clear: Russia must leave Ukraine, and pay reparations for the death and destruction it has caused. What is your position? Should Russia leave Ukraine immediately and pay reparations for the death and destruction it has caused?

[@nikolaosaggelopoulos8113]

@@sahbab1 - When USA pays reparations to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yugoslavia, Vietnam, yes. The only precondition for a peace agreement can be the will to come to a peace agreement. Anything else is about demonising your enemy, which is the easiest thing in the world to do.

[@megavide0]

1:30:52 "... Nobody believes in the principal..." -- "... I would argue..." // Isn't that a defeatist view to claim that nobody believes in the principal? There are reasons why the principal isn't likely to be enforced in the case of Bush jr... And we can point out the double standards. ... But we can't simply shrug off Russia's criminal aggression against Ukraine as something that we have to get used to. Putin deserves to suffer defeat and he deserves to stand trial for his crimes... As Bush jr. does. Bush long left office and the American people got their chance to elect a new president that won't repeat the mistakes of the former leader. It is so important for the Russian people to lose this war. Putin needs to be humiliated out of office for Russia to recover and to reconsider their national goals and identity...

[@gmw3083]

Russia is crushing Ukraine. China and the growing BRICS alliance support Russia. Ukraine made the mistake of trusting America. Never do that.

[@theanalystofeverything]

Question, I heard that the US has biological weapons on the Russian border. Is that true? If it is then you have a repeat of the missile crisis of the 60s.

[@radscorpion8]

You're completely right. And his claim that you can equivocate between Bush Jr's invasion of Iraq and Russia's invasion of Ukraine is stunningly irrational. One of them is an invasion of a democracy by a dictatorship for the reasons of pure conquest. In the other, America was deposing Iraq of its dictator, and then protecting the country afterwards with its military and funneling resources to rebuild its economy. After many years, the US has now left with the thanks of the Iraqi government. And the fact he literally believes that not one observer - be they politician, journalist, or commentator, can possibly be sincere about resisting Russian aggression because they thought Bush Jr.'s actions were okay, is even more stunningly irrational. I can scarcely believe what I'm hearing.

[@afdave7]

I Love Noam. Im not surprused he doesnt completely understand how crypto works and why, in fact, its here to stay and will flourish. I do enjoy hearing him soeak about every other topic.

[@constantquestioning4010]

His reasoning is sound. Lethal racket

[@radscorpion8]

1:30:20 wow. That is a spectacular admission of illogic right there by Noam. I had my doubts about his irrationality, but this settles it, he is clearly letting his bias affect his reasoning. He is basically stating that just because he can't find any world leaders, politicians, or journalists who would want to arrest Bush Jr for his war in Iraq, means that none of them (the entire world) can possibly be sincere about stopping Russian aggression in Ukraine. What is amazing about it, is how simple the error is. It could easily be true, and ironically it would be true for the same reasons Chomsky himself is displaying. Because of bias. The fact he can't see this simple answer, is stunning. And secondly, it could easily be true for a different reason - that in spite of the misleading reasons for getting into the war, many might justifiably see that the Iraq is actually a better country now that Saddam has been removed from power, since it has transitioned from an iron-fisted dictatorship to a democratic state. Not only that but the US protected Iraq with its own military from insurgents and terrorists afterwards, and funnelled millions into its economy and social services. Then they left Iraq, giving it back to the Iraqi people - stronger and freer than before. And he REALLY thinks, this is equivalent to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for reasons of pure conquest, not to mention the ongoing war crimes now recognized by the ICC. Its just completely insane.

[@jannichi6431]

Iran is suffering now. Oil got to Bush Family. Beverly Hillbillies coupled with Daddy knows Best. My attempt to lighten the mood, apologies.

[@JAB6434]

What you fail to mention is that Iraq no longer exists as a country thanks to the US invasion, and anywhere between a hundred thousand to a million Iraqis were killed by US forces which admittedly didn't keep county of the Iraqi dead. Thanks to that war, the Middle East as well as much of Africa have been destabilized and future jeopardized by the terrorist groups that emerged on the scene afterward like Boko Haram and ISIS. I had no brief for Saddam and I am well aware of his history of torturing his opponents but at the same time, for those who accepted his regime, the standards of education and women's rights were among the highest in the Arab world. He presented no threat to the US any more than did Vietnam, nor more recently, Khadafy's Libya which thanks to Obama and the malinfluence of Hillary Clinton, also no longer exists, with its weapons ending up in the hands of ISIS, Al Qaeda and Boko Haram. A pretty sordid record by any honest perspective,

[@constantquestioning4010]

You ARE joking

[@constantquestioning4010]

@@JAB6434 Thank you for richly informative, pondered post 👏👏👏 🕯🙏🏼

[@GnosticJ]

Maybe Chopski would like to tell us what it was He and Jeffrey Epstein were talking about at their dinners..?

[@RandomNooby]

Can you give the date and location of the interviews, so I can investigate.