Noam Chomsky - The Purpose of Education 

" Teaching ought to be inspiring students to discover on their own, to challenge if they don't agree, to look for alternatives if they think they are better ones..." -Noam Chomsky

Cameraman: "What's this boring education thing? I'll just zoom into his nasal hair for fun instead."

I agree with his every word. Always teach my students to think on their own, question me, as their instructor, question the teaching materials, the curriculum, and the "public opinion." Educating independent thinkers is priceless. "Education is what remains after you've forgotten everything you've been taught." Don't know who said it, but bloody well said!

Noam Chomsky is my intellectual hero and one of my guides in life.

Yes the fast paced editing is brilliant! It adds so much to the experience. You feel like you are in the room with him, running around from side to side, getting in his face then quickly pulling back and sitting in a chair a few feet off to the side of him... you know, like you always do when you are listening to someone.

As a former educator at both the secondary and community college levels, I agree. In my beginning yrs as a teacher, I bought into the "indoctrination" approach to education. It's a disaster for both students & ed in general. It was only in later yrs that I learned the value of teaching students to think & develop creativity rather than to recite. Some recitation is of use, but it shouldn't be the primary focus of education.

Listening to Chomsky is like listening to an Ocean 🌊 of knowledge.

"it doesn't matter what we cover, it matters what you discover." i love this video! and noam chomsky.

Brilliant man !!! Every he speaks you learn , make you think . He really stimulates mind and thought positively

Noam Chomsky has that relaxing ASMR voice.

this is probably one of the best videos I've ever seen on youtube

It's impossible to learn "without biasies." What you should strive for is to learn so much that you know the biasies you're learning and the one's you have.

What I've learned watching this is that there is always room for one more Book on a pile of Books. 😂

Hi all, Below I am posting the UNTOUCHED TRANSCRIPT of the video for the benefit of those who want to take note while listening. Like you guys I am also a fan of Chomsky :) (Part 1/2) Purpose of Education we can ask ourselves what the purpose of an educational system is, and of course, there are sharp differences on this matter. there’s the traditional and interpretation that comes from the Enlightenment which holds that the highest goal in life is to inquire and create to search the riches of the past, try to internalize the parts of them that are significant to you. carry that quest for understanding, further in your own way. purpose of Education on from that point of view is just to help people determine how to learn on their own it’s you the learner who is going to achieve in the course of education and it’s really up to you what you’ll what you’ll master where you go how you use it how you’ll go on to produce something new and exciting for yourself maybe for others. that’s one concept of Education the other concept is essentially a doctrination people have to the idea that from childhood young people have to be placed into a framework in which they’ll follow orders accept existing frameworks and not challenge and so on. and this is often quite explicit. so for example after the in the after the activism of the 1960s there was great concern across much of the educated spectrum. that young people were just getting to free and independent that the country was becoming too democratic and so on and in fact there’s an important study on what’s called the crisis of democracy too much democracy. arguing that they are claiming that there are certain institutions responsible for the indoctrination of the young. so they’re phrase and they’re not doing their job properly that’s schools universities churches, we have to change them so that they carry out the job of indoctrination control more effectively. that’s actually coming from the liberal internationalist end of the spectrum of educated opinion and in fact since that time there have been many measures taken to try to turn the educational system towards more control more indoctrination or vocational training imposing a debt which traps students young people into a life of conformity and so on. that’s the exact opposite of the what I referred to as the tradition that comes out of the Enlightenment. and there’s a constant struggle between those in the colleges in the schools in the schools do you do you train for passing tests or do you train for creative inquiry pursuing interests that are aroused by a material that’s presented you want to pursue either on your own or cooperation with others and this goes all the way through up to graduate school and research. just two different ways of looking at the world when you when you get to a say a research institution like the one we’re now in at the graduate level that essentially follows the enlightenment tradition effect science and couldn’t regress unless it was based on inculcation of the urge to challenge to question. the doctrine question authority search for alternatives use your imagination that freely under your own impulses cooperative work with others as constant as you can see just by walking down the halls. that’s my view what an educational system should be like down to kindergarten. but there’s certainly are powerful structures in the society which would prefer people to be indoctrinated and form not ask too many questions be obedient fulfill the roles that are assigned to you and don’t try to shake systems of power and authority. those are choices we have to make either as people that wherever we stand in the educational system as students as teachers as people on the outside trying to help shape it in the directions in which we think it ought to go Impact of technology Well there certainly has been a very substantial growth and new technology, technology of communication and information access interchange it’s surely a major change in the nature of the culture and society. we should bear in mind that the technological changes that are taking place now while they’re significant probably coming nowhere near having as much impact as technological advances of say century ago plus or minus so the shifts as tech just communication the shift from a typewriter to a computer or a telephone to the email is significant but then begin to compare with the shift from a sailing vessel to a telegraph I mean the time that that cut down in communication between say England and the United States was extraordinary as compared with the changes taking place now and the same is true of other kinds of technology like just introduction of say plumbing widespread plumbing in the cities had a huge effect on health much more than the discovery of antibiotics so the changes are real and significant but we should recognize that others have taken place which in many ways were more dramatic the as far as the technology itself and education is concerned technology is it’s basically neutral it’s kind of like a hammer I mean you can the hammer doesn’t care whether you use it to build a house or whether a torturer uses it to crush somebody skull hammer can do either same with the modern technology say the Internet so on the Internet is extremely valuable if you know what you’re looking for I mean I use it all the time for research I’m sure everyone does if you know the kind of what you’re looking for you have a kind of a framework of understanding which directs you to particular things it lets you sideline lots of others then this can be a very valuable tool of course you always have to be willing to ask is my framework the right one maybe I ought to modify it maybe if there’s something I look at that questions that I should rethink how I’m looking at things but you can’t pursue any kind of inquiry without a pretty relatively clear framework that’s directing your search and helping you choose what’s significant what isn’t what can be put as I thought to be pursued what ought to be challenged will be developed and so on you can’t expect somebody to become a biologist say by giving them access to the Harvard University biology library and say just look through it give them nothing and the Internet is the same except magnified enormously. if you don’t understand what know what you’re looking for if you don’t have some kind of a conception of what matters always of course we supervise that you’re willing to question it if it seems to be going in the wrong direction. if you don’t have that, exploring the Internet is just picking out random factoids that don’t mean anything. so behind any significant use of contemporary technology the Internet communication systems with graphics whatever it may be behind unless behind it is some well-constructed directive conceptual apparatus it is very unlikely to be helpful it may turn out to be harmful. for example, the random exploration through the internet it turns out to be a cult generator pick up a factoid here and a factoid there and somebody else reinforces it and all of a sudden you have some created the picture which has some factual basis but doesn’t do with the world you have to know how to evaluate interpret and understand the say biology again they the person who wins the Nobel Prize in biology is not the person who read the most journal articles and the most notes on the person knew what to look for and cultivating that capacity to seek what’s significant always willing to question whether you’re on the right track that’s what education is going to be about whether it’s using computers in the internet or pencil and paper and books

Noam Chomsky****** great speech. his analysis of 'The impact of technology' is great can't be said otherwise!

I've just discovered this and it really is a fantasic narrative. Thank you

Excellent analysis under "Assessment Vs Autonomy" "It doesn't matter what we cover, it matters what you discover" Wow! 👍

I learn infinitely more on my own than any one hour in institutionalized learning.

Always a pleasure to listen to Professor Chomsky.

Who the hell is shooting this?? Stunningly crappy camera work....Chomsky.. brilliant as always.

THANK YOU SIR..RESPECT AND MUCH LOVE..:)

The only purpose of education is to teach a person how to live his life; by developing his mind and equipping him to deal with reality. The training he needs is theoretical, meaning conceptual. He has to be taught to think, to understand, to integrate, to prove. He has to be taught the essentials of the knowledge discovered in the past, and he has to be equipped to acquire further knowledge by his own effort.

Thanks for reading it!

You are one of the great men I admire!

Free education for everyone. Create more videos about learning or how to create or how things work. Knowledge is something that is shared will grow. Hiding information about how something works or how it's created slows down progress not increase it.

Thanks a lot for the 35 seconds of titles.

Excellent upload, who cares about the camera angle, great sound quality is all you need with Chomsky

An individual can do research and in fact doing the right research is an outcome. Evaluating the exact truth or outcome gives enlightenment. A human being has to do that and try to feel complete. Knowing the truth can help but so many people accept the media or untruths as a well being God bless Noam. A man!

Great stuff, Noam 👏🏼 The public school system had me thinking that I didn’t I care much for learning. “Hurdles” as he described. Years later, discovering that I love reading learning so much. The indoctrination of conformity from the public school system is a crime to humanity 🙎🏻‍♂️ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER 📖 🧠 💪🏼

*zooms into a skin cell on Chomsky's left cheek*

I've realized now that I can appreciate Noam Chomsky from a distance and don't need this creative camera work.

Many thanks for honesty time

0:36 Starts talking

Noam is a true legend. A moral inspiration like no other.

Thank you, Mr. Noam.

The best thing is to start with his early interviews and speeches. He is much more energetic. Even given the age, the speeches are worth reading or listening to.

Listening to this makes me hopeful that some people are aware of this and are pushing for this kind of direction in education. But it saddens me to know how far removed our current education systems are from this ideal model. Noam Chomsky for world leader.

Ability to learn on their own... indeed

I agree with you. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. The main thing is to listen to people with different viewpoints, and then make an informed decision based on logical facts you are presented with. The decision or viewpoint you reach may not always accord with someone elses, but it is the best one for you.

Thanks for all the closeups. I love looking at liver spots.

Education 1) Enlightenment - is up to you to achieve value, find meaning 2) Indoctrination - accept, not challenge Train for passing test or inquire/understanding Technology - nueutral - like hammer, to kill or build Communication - email - phone - telegram - sailing vessel Plumbing on health vs antibiotics Is my framework the right one.

Thank you for the sporadic HD shots on Chomskys mouth and nose. I don't know If i would be able to enjoy is as much if I wouldn't be able to see his spit and nose hairs as detailed as you showed them.

A perfect background for the man.

Great insights from Seth about the origin of our schools and the education system. "EasyThinker"

Chomsky brilliant as always. John Dewey had questioned the value of rote training and preferred that students be taught o develop critical thinking skills. The problem is that colonial institutions view this as dangerous because the oppressed will begin to question the legitimacy of those that govern them.

"It doesn't matter what I cover, only what you discover" So cool :-)

More people need to see this

Nearly finished a second of his books from years ago.. Chaps a hero

Mr Chomsky is an absolute brilliant mind, surpasses Einstein who was a genius in mathematics but Mr Chomsky provides a constant seamless and uninterrupted flow of information I am amazed how this great professor can speak for 2-3 hours with his oratory skills. It is an honor sir.

I love the leaning pile of books on Chomsky's right :-)

Love this man.

I read your responses and you seem to really have a head on your shoulders. Like you, I think it is up to every individual to make something of himself/herself. I think too often we listen to other people. I like what you said "If you feel you are not rich and do not have a political voice, then become rich yourself" That is very true.

I used to be a big proponent of education but now I look at humanity, the world, the nature of existence and realise that our lives are meaningless and education doesnt seem to change that. All education seems to do now is attempt to enhance technology to make our lives as bearable as possible. Ppl are now on more meds than ever, more lonely than ever, more anxious and depressed than ever, working more than ever, divorce higher than ever, and yet we are all more educated than ever. Theres a crisis of meaning, purpose and a sense of connection among ppl that education cant address. We have to ask what are we being educated for, what version of the future is worth striving for? AI? Travelling to the pits of the universe? We're at a crossroads now where we are all looking to something or someone that will make our educational endevours worth pursuing. Education has a toll, a psychological cost, what is the reward. If a 9-6 job, wife and kids and a mortgage is what we're being sold then education itself will find itself under threat.

It's almost insane how accurate what he is saying this, I seldomly get struck with this kind of accuracy. I've been living a sheltered life with as minimal of an influence from society onto me as possible and this is almost word for word my "truths" that I uncovered through my own observations and hold onto to guide me through life. I have got to meet this man in person while he's still alive, bravo.

ありがとう、先生！

He looks like a god inspecting us as we are on a 2D dimentional line. Still a very human kind; What a pleasure listening to Mr Chomsky. I am glad to be living in the world of today.

“the internet is a cult generator...”. I like that idea, if you’re not careful you’ll reinforce any idea you want to.

I know all of that but he's still my hero! He's not an idol, he's a source of inspiration and wisdom.

Now that someone id listen to

Noam Chomsky is a legend !

I really wish the cameraman didn't focus so much on his mouth and his nose.

My goal in life is to have a room like that, books stacked up like towers, and I’ve read each and every one of them. I’m very serious when I say that.

I agree with this guy a lot. A lot of one's personal success depends on an intrinsic pursuance of inquiry towards subjects that pique one's interest. Thankfully, high schools let you choose your own classes over a wide spectrum of subjects and most are even AP. I myself enjoyed doing a full year of AP-exclusive classes and let me tell you it awoke within me an autodidactic fiend...

I love this spirit.

00:37 Go

Most people are at least vaguely aware (me) of assertions in the clip, but he puts a lot of "current thinking" in a nutshell, a few nuggets: Two concepts of "purpose of education" system. First, Traditional philosophy, the enlightenment (inquire, create, search riches of the past, internalize significant bits) and further, in your own way, to help people determine how to learn on their own for yourself [HIS PREMISE THROUGH ALL OF THIS]. Second, Indoctrination, to accept and not challenge--after activism of 60s, concern that "crisis of democracy" saying that institutions aren't indoctrinating the young effectively, towards life of conformity, for passing tests for vocational training--RATHER than inquiry, pursuing interests (opposite of enlightenment tradition). Impact of Technology. The significance of communications is not as big as transportation, or even plumbing--changes are real, but not as dramatic. Tech is neutral, the hammer doesn't care--researcher has to have a framework for which Internet is a valuable tool. Inquiry directs your research, illuminating what ought to be pursued. A biologist isn't just someone with access to the information--awareness of what matters is fundamental, while Internet and communications aren't helpful, even potentially harmful, if result is cult-generated factoids without evaluation. Education, a Cost or an Investment? Do we want free, creative individuals, OR, who can increase the GDP?, which are not the same thing. Though cost/benefit analysis can be used--e.g. work on the Internet at MIT, where people explore possibilities for useful tools, for scientific and cultural progress--including master artisans that rise on the shoulders of others--it does not come from nowhere, it comes from the lively cultural and educational system that encourages creative exploration, independence of thought, willingness to challenge & cross frontiers of accepted beliefs--without which you are not going to get tech that leads to economic gains. Assessment vs Autonomy. Tests for students and instructors are to see what I know and where to go from here--a person can do well on tests, but understand very little. Constructive purposes (rather than hurdles that divert from what you ought to be doing) are purpose of tests. Tests are useful tool, for helping improve what we're doing--but doesn't compare with engagement, searching, inquiring, pursuing topics, which is far more significant. You remember what you discover. Physics teacher is asked, "What are we going to cover in this course?" response is, "It matters only what you discover." Inspiring students to discover on their own, to challenge if they don't agree, to look for alternatives, to work through great achievements-of-the-past that interest them. Education is helping students get to the point where they learn on their own, not absorb material from the outside. ~ Noam Chomsky

Chomsky’s brilliance is matched only by the moral integrity he’s shown throughout his long life to the present day.

4:11 train for passing tests or creative inquiry pursuing interests

Thank God for private Liberal Arts colleges! The one I went to began by explaining their approach to education was the "drawing out what [was] already there." I've never regretted it. And if I have to die to eliminate my student loan debt, I don't care. I'll die with the firm belief that I won't have missed anything worth living for, anyway. We have it backward in so many ways, it's all but unbearable.

"..it DOESN'T matter what we'll cover,it matters what you'll DISCOVER..."

Education is knowing that, whatever you have done, could be improved. It is never complete, rather merely a work in progress.

What a great thinker!

"In Sweden your paid $300 a week to attend university" ? Oh yeah? I am Swedish, but I do not recognise such sums when it comes to study allocation unless you add a loan, which has to be payd back later.

Why did the cameraman have a fetish of crawling inside Chomsky's left nostil? It was very distracting. Otherwise, as useual, I found his ideas very insightful. Anyone who really listens, wheather they agree or not, must concede that he presents an intelligent discussion on any topic he tackles.

Behind any significant use of contemporary technology such as the internet, it is very unlikely to be helpful, and in fact it turns out to be harmful. Brilliant as always.

love to LISTEN to that guy. the staples of books in the image and the close up camera shots are ridiculous :)

I'm sure we can all do without the nasal hair close ups

Wow, that's 22 mins of my life that I will never get back...

Universal Freedom and Universal responsibility are the principle of NANHI DUNYA SCHOOLS in Dehradun, India. You have reconfirmed many things to us. I am so sorry for all those who are worried about the camera...who cares ...feel the spirit of the Man. Thank you Noam. AK ???? Eric???

brilliant mind ...beautiful mind ...

I think Chomsky is the great thinker of our time. He'll be missed. But, concerning education for what one assumes is the masses, he misses an important point: we're not all created equally. From what I've seen, as an educator, if left to their own devices not all students will gravitate to learning on the basis of 'being free to learn about what you're interested in'. Unless how to put rocks into snowballs and not get caught, or how to get my hair to look like Katy Perry's qualifies as 'being free to learn about what you're interested in', it's not going to work. He's projecting, which we all do. While HE may have resented the perceived limitations of education/indoctrination, most of us simply don't have the capacity or the desire to figure things out on our own. I'd say biologically, we were not designed that way. Some are! And Chomsky is one! But alas, most of us are much better at following than leading.

The system has an over-reliance on standardized tests, with outdated theoretical backings. I've known so many people who did fair, or even poorly, on their standardized tests (SAT, CAT) , and went on into college doing well, and have creative productions in the real world. At one point they were failing 4.0, H.S students for not testing well. In Western society, the bureaucracy of the analytic, has led to a corrupt education system, that severely undervalues intuitive thinking. Ironically, intuition has always been important in western philosophy of mind (Einstein, Poincare, Feynman, Von Neumann). Unfortunately, in such an anti-intellectual society, it's impossible for laymen, many with backgrounds from 3rd world countries and blue collar inheritance, to even realize this tragedy exists. If the system is biased against a relative handful, of highly gifted minds, which I believe it is, then in Democracy's, where the opinion of the mediocre flourish, this will remain a tragedy.

Knowledge is born.

Great video!!!

Who the hell is shooting this?? Stunningly crappy camera work

sorry but you overdid it with the fancy editing and stuff like that. please try to just keep it simple. it can still be aesthetic that way!

My guess is the variety of camera angles makes it visually more interesting, and easier for us to pay attention. It's more like a regular conversation - nobody looks at anybody else head-on for 100% of the time.

He's quite admirable! :)

I fell asleep during the first 10 seconds..

99% of humans are asleep...

Amazing video!

this video is surreal

Thank you.

Very interesting Thanks

I had to turn up the volume all the way

I just love his voice. Cool, silky, intellectual, objective.

An amazing thinker.

I completely agree.

sehr schöne sprech hier danke Noam Chomsky

Contrasting purposes of education in the modern age using an adjustable, well-constructed, directive conceptual apparatus/framework