In this historic 1971 debate, two of the twentieth century's most
influential thinkers discuss whether there is such a thing as innate
human nature.
In 1971, at the height of the Vietnam War and at a time of great
political and social instability, two of the world's leading
intellectuals, Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault, were invited by Dutch
philosopher Fons Elders to debate an age-old question: Is there such a
thing as "innate" human nature independent of our experiences and
external influences?
The resulting dialogue is one of the most original, provocative, and
spontaneous exchanges to have occurred between contemporary
philosophers. Above all, their discussion serves as a concise
introduction to their two opposing theories. What begins as a
philosophical argument rooted in linguistics (Chomsky) and the theory of
knowledge (Foucault), soon evolves into a broader discussion
encompassing a wide range of topics, from science, history, and
behaviorism to creativity, freedom, and the struggle for justice in the
realm of politics.
In addition to the debate itself, this volume features a newly written
introduction by noted Foucault scholar John Rajchman and includes
substantial additional texts by Chomsky and Foucault.
"[Chomsky is] arguably the most important intellectual alive." --The
New York Times
"Foucault . . . leaves no reader untouched or unchanged." --Edward
Said
