{"product_id":"the-chomsky-foucault-debate-on-human-nature-9781595581341","title":"The Chomsky-Foucault Debate: On Human Nature","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn this historic 1971 debate, two of the twentieth century's most influential thinkers discuss whether there is such a thing as innate human nature.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In 1971, at the height of the Vietnam War and at a time of great political and social instability, two of the world's leading intellectuals, Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault, were invited by Dutch philosopher Fons Elders to debate an age-old question: Is there such a thing as \"innate\" human nature independent of our experiences and external influences? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The resulting dialogue is one of the most original, provocative, and spontaneous exchanges to have occurred between contemporary philosophers. Above all, their discussion serves as a concise introduction to their two opposing theories. What begins as a philosophical argument rooted in linguistics (Chomsky) and the theory of knowledge (Foucault), soon evolves into a broader discussion encompassing a wide range of topics, from science, history, and behaviorism to creativity, freedom, and the struggle for justice in the realm of politics. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In addition to the debate itself, this volume features a newly written introduction by noted Foucault scholar John Rajchman and includes substantial additional texts by Chomsky and Foucault. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"[Chomsky is] arguably the most important intellectual alive.\" -\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Foucault . . . leaves no reader untouched or unchanged.\" -Edward Said\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNoam Chomsky\u003c\/strong\u003e is Institute Professor (emeritus) in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Laureate Professor of Linguistics and Agnese Nelms Haury Chair in the Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona. A world-renowned linguist and political activist, he is the author of numerous books, including \u003cem\u003eOn Language: Chomsky's Classic Works \u003c\/em\u003eLanguage and Responsibility\u003cem\u003e and \u003c\/em\u003eReflections on Language; \u003cem\u003eUnderstanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky\u003c\/em\u003e, edited by Peter R. Mitchell and John Schoeffel; \u003cem\u003eAmerican Power and the New Mandarins\u003c\/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003eFor Reasons of State\u003c\/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003eProblems of Knowledge and Freedom\u003c\/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003eObjectivity and Liberal Scholarship\u003c\/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003eTowards a New Cold War: U.S. Foreign Policy from Vietnam to Reagan\u003c\/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003eThe Essential Chomsky\u003c\/em\u003e (edited by Anthony Arnove); and \u003cem\u003eOn Anarchism\u003c\/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003eThe Withdrawal\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eOn Cuba\u003c\/em\u003e (both with Vijay Prashad), all published by The New Press. He lives in Tucson, Arizona.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMichel Foucault\u003c\/strong\u003e (1926-1984) was one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century. He held a chair in the history of systems of thought at the Collège de France and lectured at universities throughout the world. The New Press has published his books Aesthetics, Method, and Epistemology; Ethics; Power; and The Essential Foucault. Foucault's other books include \u003cem\u003eMadness and Civilization\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eDiscipline and Punish\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Order of Things\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eThe History of Sexuality\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"New Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50620752625938,"sku":"9781595581341","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_cc5ad100-6092-45d9-b6dd-473fc8c081ca.jpg?v=1732572608","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-chomsky-foucault-debate-on-human-nature-9781595581341","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}