Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky is one of the most eminent and influential intellectuals of the 20th and 21st centuries. The American linguist, philosopher and political activist has written extensively on a broad range of subjects, and his works have profoundly shaped contemporary thought in linguistics, cognitive science, philosophy, politics, and beyond.

Chomsky was born in 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of William Chomsky, an outspoken Jewish immigrant from Ukraine, and Elsie Simonofsky, the daughter of the noted Yiddish author Chaim Simonofsky. After attending the University of Pennsylvania and receiving his bachelor's degree in philosophy, Chomsky went on to receive his master's degree in linguistics in 1955. He continued his studies and research at Harvard, with a particular focus on generative grammar and phrase structure, before returning to the University of Pennsylvania where he accepted a professorship in linguistics.

It was during his time at the University of Pennsylvania that Chomsky emerged as a leading figure of the intellectual left. His powerful and influential critiques of American foreign policy and media coverage, as well as his criticism of the Vietnam War, made him one of the most influential public intellectuals in the United States. Although he was frequently met with hostility and criticism, Chomsky’s unwavering commitment to the principles of freedom and democracy won him admirers and comrades on both sides of the political aisle.

Chomsky is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking theories of syntax and generative grammar, formulated in the late 1950s and early 1960s, respectively. These theories revolutionized the field of linguistics, which had traditionally been primarily focused on structural linguistics. Chomsky was known for utilizing highly abstract and philosophical methods—drawing on concepts from the fields of philosophy, mathematics, and logic—to develop his theories.

In addition to his theories of syntax and generative grammar, Chomsky is widely recognized for his extensive writings on politics, media criticism, and philosophy. His first book on politics, American Power and Intervention, was published in 1967 and was highly controversial for its highly critical assessment of US foreign policy. Chomsky’s extensive writing on media and American culture, as well as his critical analyses of the propaganda tactics employed by political power structures, were developed over the course of hundreds of articles and books.

Chomsky’s works include such seminal works as Syntactic Structures (1957), Rules and Representations (1980), Language and Problems of Knowledge (1988) and New Horizons in the Study of Language and Mind (2000). These works have been translated into numerous languages, and they have inspired generations of scholars, including many of the leading figures in the fields of linguistics, philosophy, and politics.

Aside from Chomsky’s writing on linguistics, philosophy, and politics, he has also been an outspoken advocate for social justice and human rights. Chomsky has spoken out in support of Palestinian rights, and he has advocated for the rights of immigrants and Indigenous peoples. He is a vocal critic of capitalism and neoliberal economic policies, and has called for progressive economic reform in the United States.

Chomsky's work has had a profound impact on many fields of inquiry, and his legacy will long be remembered. His commitment to the principles of freedom and justice, as well as his rigorous intellectual output, have been an example for generations of liberal and progressive thinkers.