The link above directs you to a recently published open-access book from University College London Press, which delves into the enduring significance of Noam Chomsky’s seminal 1967 essay. titled "The Responsibility of Intellectuals" https://chomsky.info/19670223/ This publication is especially timely and relevant when considered alongside contemporary discussions surrounding the societal role of academics, as exemplified by the Nature editorial titled 'Scientists must rise above politics — and restate their value to society' https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02379-w
It is crucial to acknowledge, however, that the principle of academic independence as a cornerstone of democracy is not a new idea. Former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson famously asserted that one of the primary purposes of the academy was to engage in independent critique of institutions such as the church and state. His vision for academia was to serve as a mechanism to 'unmask their usurpation, and monopolies of honors, wealth, and power.' This powerful sentiment resonates today and has been thoughtfully referenced in J.K. Brownlee’s doctoral dissertation: Brownlee, J. K. (2014) Irreconcilable differences: The corporatization of Canadian universities (Doctoral dissertation, Carleton
University.
