Noam Chomsky in conversation on free speech with Exeter Professor

Linguist and philosopher, Noam Chomsky, will speak to Professor Robert Lamb from the University of Exeter, in a free online event.

Often called the ‘founder of modern linguistics’, Chomsky will answer audience questions, focusing on the topic of free speech, live from Tucson in the United States on 11 September.

He will be in conversation with Robert Lamb, Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Exeter and Director of the Institute for Cultural Enquiry.

In July this year, Chomsky put his name to the ‘Letter on Justice and Open Debate’, which was signed by 153 writers. The public letter warned against ‘an intolerance of opposing views, a vogue for public shaming’. It also condemned the ‘disproportionate punishments instead of considered reforms. Editors are fired for running controversial pieces’.

While welcomed by some, the letter had a considerable backlash, with many placing it within the ‘cancel culture’ debate. This event is a chance to examine the issues with Noam Chomsky.

Alongside linguistics, Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy and one of the founders of the field of cognitive science. He is one of the most cited scholars alive. As an activist, he is vocally anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist, speaking out against many conflicts.

“Noam Chomsky is a provocative and polymathic public intellectual and global icon – engaging with his ideas is an urgent undertaking during our troubled political times,” said Professor Robert Lamb.

The event is organised by Agile Rabbit, a partner of the University of Exeter, and will take place 11 September at 7pm.

All those who register can submit questions and a selection will be asked to him.