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Works Cited

Denny, Heather. “MIT Libraries Logo MIT Libraries.” MIT Libraries News, libraries.mit.edu/news/libraries-receive-papers/7765/

Galilei, Galileo, "Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany, 1615" (2013). Instructional Resources. 97.

Gottesdiener, Laura. “10 Brilliant Quotes by Noam Chomsky on How Media Really Operates in America.” Alternet, www.alternet.org/media/10-brilliant-quotes-noam-chomsky-how-media-really-operates-america.

McGilvray, James A. “Noam Chomsky.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 13 July 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Noam-Chomsky.

Plato. Plato's The Republic. New York :Books, Inc., 1943. Print.

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“Democracy is staged with the help of media that work as propaganda machines.”

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Religion and the Cave

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A humorous image of a cave dweller who has finally escaped.

Courtesy of study.com

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A Modern Plato’s Cave

Courtesy of sxsw.com

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Modern Media and Plato’s Cave

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Plato

Courtesy of biography.com

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An insightful video on the lack of funding for environmental programs and how the so called “stupid people” the interviewer asks about are the people with all the power making the decisions.

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Galileo explaining his theories on the solar system

Courtesy of history.com

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A Modern Philosopher King

Noam Chomsky is a theoretical linguist whose work has revolutionized the field. Chomsky was one of the first to recognize that basic principles of language are “innately represented in the human mind” and grammar is acquired from a “child’s linguistic environment.” Chomsky is also known for his biting critiques on American media, where he breaks down agenda setting and thought control. Chomsky has often been criticized for his views and was even put on Richard Nixon’s enemy list. (Mcgilvray) Through concepts established by early philosophers, Chomsky integrates their ideals into our often changing heavily mediated environment. 

It is hard not to compare Chomsky to that of Plato and Galileo who were also activists in promoting new ways of thinking. Chomsky once stated “if we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all” (Denny). This bears much resemblance to the beginning of Galileo’s letter where he states “Showing a greater fondness for their own opinions than for truth, they sought to deny and disprove the new things which, if they had cared to look for themselves, their own senses would have demonstrated to them.” (Galilei, pg. 1, 8-10) Both are being critical of a society which is too close-minded to accept other ways of thinking. The societal issues of Galileo’s time are similar to that of Chomsky’s because the people contained in them are too set on following the rules that have been established for them. This is similar to what Plato meant when he said “"a just man tries to get the better of his unlike, but not of his like; and unjust man tries to get the better of both." (Plato, pg. 27, 349c 11-12) All of these philosophers aren’t set against one opponent, but are instead trying to educate the public as a whole, and they do so by often going against what is considered just or morally right for their time.