Noam Chomsky
Emily Vickers
Noam Chomsky: Enemy of the State There are many great authors in modern times. Each writer has their own story to tell and their own passion to deliver onto their pages. Noam Chomsky’s story is one of intelligence, motivation, and the search for justice. He is an American linguist, philosopher, scientist, and political critic. He is an activist for truth. Chomsky has written numerous books that have helped motivate people worldwide to strive for a better future. He is a hero in today’s society.
First of all, Avram Noam Chomsky was born December 7, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He went to school at the University of Pennsylvania, studying linguistics, mathematics, and philosophy. He started teaching Hebrew classes at night at the M.I.T. to help offset college expenses. During his time in college, Chomsky was involved in many social movements. He was very interested in the cooperative-labor movement in Palestine. To add to this activist mindset, he met many influential professors and scholars who had a great impact on the shaping of Chomsky’s thought (Barsky). For example, in 1947, Chomsky met a professor named Zellig Harris, who had many of the same interests and had a large impact on Chomsky’s life. Harris, who became Chomsky’s mentor, “is known for his work in structural linguistics and is considered to be the father of discourse analysis” (Barsky). In fact, Chomsky was frustrated with the way school was structured and considered leaving to pursue his passion for activism. However, meeting Harris motivated him to stay. In addition, this same year he was married to his wife, Carol Doris Schatz, who he is still married to today (Barsky). At the end of his studies, “Chomsky ultimately received an unconventional B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania, which reflected his interest in linguistics, philosophy, and logic” (Barsky).
Additionally, Noam Chomsky is revered as a literary genius. Many of his early writings
Noam Chomsky: Enemy of the State There are many great authors in modern times. Each writer has their own story to tell and their own passion to deliver onto their pages. Noam Chomsky’s story is one of intelligence, motivation, and the search for justice. He is an American linguist, philosopher, scientist, and political critic. He is an activist for truth. Chomsky has written numerous books that have helped motivate people worldwide to strive for a better future. He is a hero in today’s society.
First of all, Avram Noam Chomsky was born December 7, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He went to school at the University of Pennsylvania, studying linguistics, mathematics, and philosophy. He started teaching Hebrew classes at night at the M.I.T. to help offset college expenses. During his time in college, Chomsky was involved in many social movements. He was very interested in the cooperative-labor movement in Palestine. To add to this activist mindset, he met many influential professors and scholars who had a great impact on the shaping of Chomsky’s thought (Barsky). For example, in 1947, Chomsky met a professor named Zellig Harris, who had many of the same interests and had a large impact on Chomsky’s life. Harris, who became Chomsky’s mentor, “is known for his work in structural linguistics and is considered to be the father of discourse analysis” (Barsky). In fact, Chomsky was frustrated with the way school was structured and considered leaving to pursue his passion for activism. However, meeting Harris motivated him to stay. In addition, this same year he was married to his wife, Carol Doris Schatz, who he is still married to today (Barsky). At the end of his studies, “Chomsky ultimately received an unconventional B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania, which reflected his interest in linguistics, philosophy, and logic” (Barsky).
Additionally, Noam Chomsky is revered as a literary genius. Many of his early writings
Cited: Anderson, Peggy J. "Noam Chomsky." Dictionary Of World Biography: The 20th Century (2000): 1-3. MagillOnLiterature Plus. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. Barsky, Robert F. Noam Chomsky: A life of Dissent. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 1997. Print. Chomsky, Noam. Occupy. Brooklyn, NY: Zuccotti Park, 2012. Print. ---. “The Corporate Takeover of U.S. Democracy.” In These Times. 3 Feb. 2010. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. Fox, Margalit. “A Changed Noam Chomsky Simplifies.” Nytimes.com. The New York Times, 05 Dec. 1998. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. Powell, Michael. “An Eminence With No Shades of Gray; In a New Bestseller, Noam Chomsky Argues Against the War in Afghanistan.” Washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post, 5 May 2002. Web. 2012.