There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
Noam ChomskyRead
The general population doesn't know what's happening, and it doesn't even know that it doesn't know.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that most people are unaware of their ignorance regarding important issues.
Noam Chomsky highlights a critical aspect of human awareness by stating that the general population is largely oblivious to the complexities of the world around them. This lack of awareness extends beyond mere ignorance, as people may not even realize that they are uninformed. This quote calls into question the level of understanding and engagement that individuals have with societal and political issues.
Themes
AwarenessIgnoranceKnowledgeSocietyChomsky
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a presentation about media literacy to illustrate the importance of critical thinking.
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If you're teaching today what you were teaching five years ago, either the field is dead or you are.
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There are very few people who are going to look into the mirror and say, 'That person I see is a savage monster;' instead, they make up some construction that justifies what they do.
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The Republican Party has become overwhelmingly so extreme that it's hardly a traditional political party anymore.
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There is still much debate about whether torture has been effective in eliciting information - the assumption being, apparently, that if it is effective, then it may be justified.
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