For one thing, studying language is by itself a part of a study of human intelligence that is, perhaps, the central aspect of human nature. And second, I think, it is a good model for studying other human properties, which ought to be studied by psychologists in the same way.

Some may remember, if you have good memories, that there used to be a concept in Anglo-American law called a presumption of innocence, innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Now that's so deep in history that there's no point even bringing it up, but it did once exist.

Democratic societies can't force people. Therefore they have to control what they think.

U.S. has no feudal background, so institutions that remained in place in Europe did not remain in place here.

I choose to live in what I think is the greatest country in the world, which is committing horrendous terrorist acts and should stop.

But on the contrary Wikileaks is under heavy attack by the government and corporations are participating in that by closing down their websites.

The tendencies are considerably weaker in the natural sciences, which, for the past several centuries, have survived and flourished through such constant challenge, and therefore, at best, seek to encourage it. Serving the status quo in political and socioeconomic realms is a different matter.