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I know it misses the point: but Noam Chomsky didn't get his professorship by being a social critic, I think it's more of a hobby for him. I believe MIT thinks

• internaut 10y ago
  I think you're right initially but then I think also that over time his position as 'provocateur-in-chief' or 'ideas-man' becomes more important to the prestige of the institution. That is fine but our society does not appear to recognize 'social critic' as a formal job. I'm not sure that says anything positive about society and the power of credentialism. He could leave the university but in some way he kind of can't either. I think Julian Assange had a similar problem only more dire. He must be called journalist or he loses a protective mantle even though he has long become more important than a mere journalist. Maybe one day we'll recognize 'leaker' as a formal title and a Wikileaks as an institution.