On Jordan Peterson

peterson_lecture_283352270114629

I recently started paying attention to Jordan Peterson.

This Canadian professor of psychology has built a huge international following, and his YouTube videos have millions of views.

Peterson is filling a hole in our culture about the importance of individuals taking personal responsibility for living an ethical life, and how this is the only path to a fulfilling life, and a healthy society, despite the reality that life is filled with malevolence and suffering.

Although Peterson is highly intelligent and well read, he appears unaware of overshoot and its many imminent threats.

Peterson also appears unaware of Varki’s MORT theory, which I suspect he would find interesting because Peterson is a dot connector and seeker of deep truth.

Nevertheless, Peterson offers fresh, inspiring, and wise advice useful for people, and especially young people, trying to navigate the coming storms.

I am reading Peterson’s new book, “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos“, and may have more to say when done.

I so wish wise intellectual leaders like Jordan Peterson, Sam Harris, Lawrence Krauss, Steven Pinker, Richard Dawkins, Nick Lane, and Noam Chomsky were overshoot aware. Their intellect and influence could then be applied to the issues that matter.

The fact that most of the smartest people in the world are not overshoot aware, despite obvious elephants in the room, provides strong support in favor of Varki’s MORT theory.

This recent interview with Peterson is an excellent introduction to his work.

 

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

10 Comments

Respect Silence
February 9, 2018 1:07 am

Lost respect for the guy after hearing him trivialize overpopulation and favor people over other species.

Next quasi-guru, please!

Michael Dowd
February 3, 2018 1:57 pm

Connie and I will watch tonight. Thanks for the recommendation.

Michael Dowd
February 2, 2018 12:36 pm

“I so wish wise intellectual leaders like Jordan Peterson, Sam Harris, Lawrence Krauss, Steven Pinker, Richard Dawkins, Nick Lane, and Noam Chomsky were overshoot aware. Their intellect and influence could then be applied to the issues that matter.”

Amen, and amen!!!

foodnstuff
foodnstuff
Reply to  Michael Dowd
February 2, 2018 8:38 pm

Amen from me, too. Particularly with someone like Dawkins, who is my evolutionary biology ‘hero’. Just finished Varki’s chapter on the benefits of denial. No wonder it is so strong!

foodnstuff
foodnstuff
Reply to  Rob Mielcarski
February 3, 2018 12:52 pm

Thanks for the link to the post about Nick Lane. I’ll watch the video although I must have seen it at the time, but I can’t remember how long I’ve been following you.

foodnstuff
foodnstuff
Reply to  foodnstuff
February 3, 2018 4:08 pm

Just watched the Nick Lane video. Fantastic…… hadn’t seen it before….wasn’t even aware of him. So much to learn! Sigh! Not enough hours in the day!