Noam Chomsky Health Update: What His Former Assistant Said (Image: sbs.arizona.edu)
“There is a rumour going around that Noam Chomsky has died. It is false. He had his physio today and is in good spirits,” wrote writer Vijay Prashad on social media platform Facebook. His clarification came after an X post by noted academic and economist Jayati Ghosh attracted traction. She wrote: “We have lost one of the greatest intellectuals of our times, a man whose brilliance and profundity, integrity, energy and morality, was a source of wonder and inspiration to millions around the world. Rest in power #NoamChomsky”. Following many queries, Jayati has clarified later that she was misinformed: “Apologies, this is NOT correct, and I was misinformed. It is just that his health has greatly deteriorated further..”
There has been no official confirmation on the news from the family or the famous academic institutions Noam Chomsky, one of the most influential intellectuals of the 20th and 21st centuries, associated with in his decades long career, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he is an institute professor emeritus.
A most recent health update about Noam Chomsky came on the Reddit posts by the public intellectual’s former assistant Bev Stohl.
In a post written four months ago, Stohl wrote that Noam is 95 years old and has been out of the public eye since last June, as many have noticed. “He has not been writing, corresponding, or interviewing, as his health and wellbeing have taken the majority of his time and energy. The family is very private, and I’m only sharing this because I have received hundreds of calls, texts, and emails asking why Noam hasn’t been replying, with all kinds of wild assumptions. As I have told many, please do not try to contact Noam or any family members during this difficult time.”
Two months ago, Stohl provided another update, which said: “Noam has not made significant progress, I’m sorry to say. I doubt he will be able to return to the public eye, as he is not communicating much if at all.”
Chomsky’s academic work and political activism have left an indelible mark on a range of fields including linguistics, cognitive science, philosophy, and political theory. In the light of Gaza war, in which Israel unleased the most cruel attack and destruction that has resulted in the death of more than 37,000 Palestinians, Chomsky’s silence and absence was noted by many and people have been wondering about his health status. His last public appearance was reportedly with Piers Morgan on June 5, 2023.
Chomsky, born December 7, 1928, in Philadelphia, whose academic journey began at the University of Pennsylvania, where he developed an interest in structural linguistics. Under the mentorship of Zellig Harris, he received his Ph.D. in linguistics in 1955. His dissertation laid the groundwork for what would become known as transformational-generative grammar, a theory that revolutionized the study of language by proposing that the ability to generate grammatical sentences is hard-wired into the human brain. This theory was elaborated in his landmark book “Syntactic Structures” (1957), which challenged the behaviorist view of language acquisition and established Chomsky as a leading figure in modern linguistics.
Chomsky’s contributions to cognitive science extended beyond linguistics. He argued that the study of language could provide insights into the workings of the human mind, suggesting that certain cognitive structures are innate rather than learned. This perspective positioned him as a central figure in the cognitive revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, influencing a wide range of disciplines including psychology, anthropology, and computer science.
Parallel to his academic work, Chomsky has been an unwavering critic of political power and social injustice. His political activism gained prominence during the Vietnam War, when he became a vocal opponent of U.S. military intervention. His essay “The Responsibility of Intellectuals” (1967) critiqued American intellectuals for their complicity in government actions and called for a more engaged and morally responsible stance.
Jayati Ghosh’s clarification on the incorrect news.
Chomsky’s critique of U.S. foreign policy extends beyond the Vietnam War. He has consistently condemned American imperialism, neoliberal economic policies, and the influence of corporate power on democracy. In books like “Manufacturing Consent” (1988), co-authored with Edward S. Herman, Chomsky dissected the ways in which mass media serve as a propaganda system that supports elite interests. This work has had a profound impact on media studies and has influenced generations of journalists and activists.
Chomsky identifies politically as an anarcho-syndicalist, advocating for decentralized, worker-controlled forms of organization. He draws inspiration from the anarchist traditions of figures like Mikhail Bakunin and Peter Kropotkin, arguing for a society based on cooperative decision-making and mutual aid. Despite his radical views, Chomsky emphasizes pragmatic approaches to political change, supporting initiatives that aim to mitigate immediate suffering while striving for long-term systemic transformation.
Throughout his career, Chomsky has written over 100 books and countless articles, maintaining a rigorous schedule of lectures and interviews. He has received numerous honors and awards, including the Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences, the Helmholtz Medal, and the Ben Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science. Despite his advanced age, Chomsky continues to be an active public intellectual, contributing to debates on a wide range of issues from environmental destruction to the threats posed by artificial intelligence.
Noam Chomsky’s legacy is marked by his relentless pursuit of knowledge and justice. His work challenges us to rethink our assumptions about language, mind, and society, urging us to question authority and strive for a more equitable world. Whether through his pioneering linguistic theories or his impassioned political critiques, Chomsky remains a towering figure whose influence transcends disciplinary boundaries and national borders.
