Discussion about Jordan Peterson.
*This discussion will reference the videos below, but they will not be played during the meeting. Please watch them ahead of time for a more informed discussion!*
Like it or not, the modern discourse in philosophy is happening on YouTube. Content creators like Joe Rogan command audiences many times the size of any show on TV, and he has long-form discussions with a wide variety of scientists, philosophers, and politicos, representing the full spectrum of ideas from very good to extremely bad.
One of the most frequent guests on these podcasts is Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson. He is by far the most influential thinker among men under forty, even though most people over forty have never heard of him. He was one of the first to address the “crisis of meaning” among young men who are increasingly left behind in the universities, the economy, and the culture. Unmotivated young men who live at home, don’t have careers, don’t date, and find themselves addicted to video games, social media, porn, and drugs. Jordan Peterson’s book “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos” connected with many of these young men and helped them find meaning and purpose in their lives.
Since then, Peterson has become a major polarizing figure in the culture wars. It started with his criticism of the Canadian Bill C-16 that protected transgender identity and expression. He was amplified by those who saw him as a secular, scientific voice that gave credibility to their prejudices, and Peterson has been more than happy to cater to his fans on the right. He has become one of the prime examples of audience capture in algorithmically-driven media, where his opinions and discussion topics evolve based on how many views they garner.
He is now a prime example of modern “secular gurus” who have evolved out of the New Atheist movement, driven by culture wars, capitalism, and the algorithm. This has led Peterson and other atheists to advocate a return to orthodox religion to please their increasingly Christian audiences, and endlessly equivocate when asked directly about their own belief in the supernatural.
RET will approach the subject as we do all subjects—with skepticism. Many members are unfamiliar with him and his ideas, so we’ll be introducing them and developing first impressions and reactions.
If you are one of Peterson’s many fans, we welcome you to join us and tell us what you find compelling about his ideas!
Since most conversations about Peterson’s ideas take place on YouTube, it is only appropriate that our conversation uses these videos as a reference. These videos try to present his key theories and subject matter from a neutral perspective. Watching all of the short videos should take about an hour.
For additional videos, click here: RET 2025.04.20 Resources.pdf.
Since this will be a Zoom meeting, bring your own coffee and snacks.
Topic: RET Third Sunday Zoom Meeting
Time: Apr 20, 2025 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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