[cunard3]

One of Chomsky's strongest works as a non-linguist is his "American Power and the New Mandarins." (1967, 1968) In it you can find sections titled: "On the responsibility of intellectuals" and "some thoughts on Intellectuals and the Schools." He also co-authored "Manufacturing Consent."

In "Power" he relays an anecdote about seeing, in the Smithsonian, I believe, an exhibit wherein museum goers could interact with a (Vietnamese) jungle scene. The interaction was to take hold of a 50 caliber mounted in a mock-up of a helicopter and shoot at villagers. That exhibit was designed and constructed by someone. Presumably someone who had a "good job" at the museum.

We are designers, most of us. And I for one can't help thinking sometimes: How much designing do I really do? Clearly if I define myself as a non-intellectual, my responsibility doesn't really change. I know that I am both educated and trained but that has not yet made me free. So what do I have: Theoretical freedom without socialism. Oh, and illusion...lots of illusion.