The Militarization of Science and Space (Original Staging Nonfiction)
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3.3 • 3 Ratings
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- $3.99
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- $3.99
Publisher Description
Unique among the world's political commentators, Noam Chomsky ranks with Marx, Shakespeare, and the Bible as one of the 10 most quoted sources in the humanities, and is the only living writer among them.
In this talk, Noam Chomsky addresses the militarization of science and space.
This forum was recorded on February 15, 2004, in the Kresge Auditorium on the campus of M.I.T.
Customer Reviews
An Important and Neglected Topic
Another fine talk from linguist/activist/author Noam Chomsky, here on the militarization of science and space policy. As usual, he offers his critiques with broader historical and social contexts; here, looking at economic trends and class issues, labor, and their relation to the state sector of the economy (the Pentagon, university grants, government biotechnology programs), responsible for our most creative and dynamic technological advances (not the private sector, as the myth insists, though the system is designed to their favor).
My one complaint with this piece is the sound quality. Terribly heavy reverb. His voice is clear enough that one gets used to it after a while, however, and it doesn't detract too much from what is a rich and informative talk.
Not to exceed 6000 characters!!
Militarization is not a curse or a blessing, but logic at its most basic.
Scientific advancement is bound to be violent, and most certainly imperial, because people are bound to be violent and imperial. "Nature is not cruel, but pitilessly indifferent". If the very nature of capitalism is "corrupt" or "violent", then the nature of socialism is also corrupt and violent in the same way and for the same reasons. remember; these ideas do not function on their own, they are not conscious entitys moving independently of their inforcers. if Communism, Socialism and Capitalism are inherently "evil" or destructive: then mankind is inherently "evil" and destructive. if Anarchy is chaos, then man is chaotic, if an idea is "Bad", then the man who created it had a "bad" idea. If violent, oppressive, imperial and genocidal communism (China) and socialism (Munich 1919) are not "real" communism or socialism at all, then the same logic must be given in favor of violent or repressive capitalism, which is also not "real" at all, but is merely a "good" idea bent to the will of "evil" men.
In reality, violence is neither "good" nor "evil", because man is neither "good" nor "evil. It either serves a perpose, or it does not. Usefulness is genetically determined; "Like everything else".
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