From: "Samuel A. Chambers" <Samuel.A.Chambers-1-AT-tc.umn.edu>
Subject: Re: Foucault vs. Chomsky
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 96 00:15:12 -0500



> 
> Hello, 
> 
> What are the debate terms between Foucault and Chomsky?  I caught a
> fragment of this debate in the video titled after Chomsky's book
> "Manufacturing of Consent." Thank you.  A. Deshevoi
> 
> .

In the most obvious terms, language serves as the center of the debate between 
Foucault and Chomsky.  Yet, even with that common "ground" the interesting 
aspect of the exchange is how little it constituted a "debate" at all.  Miller 
(in his Bio. of Foucualt) has some great quotes from Chomsky responding to the 
debate.  Chomsky was nonplussed to say the least; he simply could not believe 
the things that came out of Foucault's mouth.  Everything that Chomsky assumed 
to be a matter of simple common-sense agreement turned out to be directly 
contradicted by Foucault.  That's a bit of a superficial response to your 
question, but my scant knowledge of Chomsky would only lead to an unjust summary
of the substantive terms of the exchange...

Sam Chambers