3 Noam Chomsky Quotes on Knowledge

Noam Chomsky quotes on knowledge

188. I've often been struck by the extensive knowledge that people have of sports, and particularly, their self-confidence in discussing it with 'experts.' While driving, I sometimes turn on radio talk shows on sports, and am always struck by this. People calling in have no hesitation in criticizing the coaches, the judgments of the people running the shows, etc. In contrast, when discussing matters of concern to human lives -- their own and others -- people tend to defer to 'experts,' though for the most part the expert knowledge is no more beyond them than how the local professional sports team should play their next game. That's where the indoctrination comes in: in the intensive training that brings people to feel that they must defer to alleged 'experts' on matters of very direct concern to them, far more so than sports. I do, however, agree that there can be negative aspects to the heavily promoted frenzy on spectator sports, loyalty to the home team, etc. Depends very much on how it is carried out.

196. I think we can be reasonably confident that if the American population had the slightest idea of what is being done in their name, they would be utterly appalled.

288. I don't pretend to think I'm as smart as Noam Chomsky, but I'm smart enough to ask him questions. --Bill Maher, February 27, 2007 [269]