Noam Chomsky || On Human Nature and Human Progress

<p>Today it’s great to have the legendary Noam Chomsky on the podcast. Noam is a public intellectual, linguist, and political activist. He’s the author of many influential books, including <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Manufacturing-Consent-audiobook/dp/B06Y2LSTZZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Z7QCKFGBKGCN&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=noam+chomsky+manufacturing+consent&amp;qid=1610467733&amp;sprefix=Noam+Chomsky+manufa%2Cdigital-text%2C464&amp;sr=8-1"><em>Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media</em></a>, and his latest book with Robert Pollin called<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Climate-Crisis-Global-Green-Deal-ebook/dp/B081Y3WJFS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;keywords=Noam+Chomsky+The+green+new+deal&amp;qid=1610467692&amp;s=digital-text&amp;sr=1-1"> <em>Climate Crisis and The Green New Deal: The Political Economy of Saving The Planet.</em></a> Chomsky is also known for helping to initiate and sustain the cognitive revolution. He’s the Laureate Professor of Linguistics at The University of Arizona and Institute Professor Emeritus at MIT.</p> <p><strong>Topics</strong></p> <p>[02:06] The cognitive revolution of the ‘50s and ‘60s</p> <p>[03:49] Noam’s first encounter with behaviorism</p> <p>[12:41] What it was like to be part of the cognitive revolution</p> <p>[17:49] Implicit learning and artificial grammar</p> <p>[26:30] Noam’s view on modern-day behavioral genetics</p> <p>[28:05] Noam's thoughts on intelligence</p> <p>[32:02] Noam’s take on creativity</p> <p>[38:41] Chomsky's view vs. Foucault's view</p> <p>[42:49] Noam’s thoughts on modern-day social justice movements</p> <p>[45:50] Is there such a thing as human nature?</p> <p>[49:06] Identity vs. human nature</p> <p>[54:54] Noam’s views on race consciousness in America</p> <p>[59:16] Why Noam thinks Trump is the worst criminal in human history</p> <p>[1:00:34] How can democrats appeal to Trump supporters?</p> <p>[1:03:47] Cancel culture</p> <p>[1:05:10] The complexities of the slogan "defund the police"</p> <p>[1:08:36] Noam reflects on his life regrets</