philosophers in 20 seconds: 6- Noam Chomsky
Chomsky originally concerned himself with linguistics, swithching to the intricasies of political power, American politics specifically. Intrigued by the difference in what governments say they do, and what they actually do do leads him to his pronouncement of the "principle of universatility." In short it declares that we need to be ethically responsible, judging ourselves according to the same norms, the same morals we apply when judging others. And in the same manner we should judge our governent, not necessarily taking what they say at face value.
This principle of universatility, according to Chomsky, is an issue of morality, for without adhering to it one's pronouncements are so many empty words. In 1968 he published his "American Power and the new Mandarins." In 1967 there was his "The Responsibilities of Intellectuals" a direct outcome of his opposition to the Vietnam war. In 2001 his "9-11" saw the light, and in 2006 "Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy."
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