At the height of the Vietnam War, during a time of political and social unrest, Dutch philosopher Fons Elders invited two leading intellectuals, Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault, to debate the age-old question: Is there something called 'inherent' human nature, independent of our experience and external influences? This dialogue is considered one of the most original, spontaneous, and thought-provoking exchanges among contemporary philosophers. It also serves as a brief introduction to their fundamental theories. The discussion that began as a philosophical debate grounded in linguistics and epistemology expanded into broader topics, ranging from science, history, and psychology to creativity, freedom, and the struggle for justice in the realm of politics. In addition to the debate, the book includes a new introduction by Columbia University philosophy professor John Rajchman, and it features important additional texts by Chomsky and Foucault.

Publishing house: Dar Al Tanweer for Printing, Publishing, and Distribution

Number of Pages: 248

Year of publication: 2014