I would really like to see/hear Jordan Peterson and RICHARD ROHR discuss how the bible, Faith in God and the ‘contemplative mind’ work together.
Richard is a Roman Catholic Franciscan priest who has written many books relating how the Protestant and catholIc church have misread Jesus’ teaching with the ‘dualistic mind’
I have never, ever, signed up for a website like this.
I do respect Jordan and Richards views
These would be two voices of reason in an ego-driven world.
Richard founded the centre for Action and Contemplation on 1986. http://www.caradicalgrace.org based in Albuquerque, New Mexico
You would be doing the world a favour by getting these two great minds together.
Where can I get involved in or learn about your efforts to create a new online University? I’ve done about 50% of my BS in Computer Science online (through UMUC), and I’m currently 1 out of 6 semesters through my MS in Applied Computer Science (University of West Georgia, 100% online). I’m also taking some Coursera courses just to refresh (and hopefully exceed) what I have forgotten during the 36 years since High School. I’m interested in continuing to learn, in helping others to do so, and in convincing others of the importance of doing so. Thanks!
Sorry if I posted this in the wrong spot. I couldn’t find any information about this effort elsewhere on the site.
“I live as if he does exist.” Most evidently my friend, and who’s to say? Keep up the divine sword and slash away all the confusion bent up in the heart of men that causes so much transgression in our reality against our fellow man and against ourselves; it’s our duty and we should want to do that. Once made aware at least.
Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
Romans 1:19-20 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”
I take exception to your view of “Liberal vs Conservative”. As an American, I think you are in error considering Liberals to be about openness and Conservatives about order. You make the argument that Liberals or Leftists in the extreme are about anarchy and Conservatives or Rightists in the extreme being about tyranny. Here in the US, Leftists are about tyranny and Rightists are about liberty. I think a good way to look at it is that Liberals have become Progressive deconstructionists of our system and Conservatives have become those seeking to conserve classical liberal values. Those on the Right in the US are not about any sort of tyranny (the most government possible), In fact, they are for individual liberty (the least government possible). In every other country, they have a system based on tyranny in various degrees. An illustration would be a vertical railroad track with tyranny at the top. The left rail is Socialism, the right rail is Fascism. The US illustration would be a horizontal line with tyranny on the extreme left and anarchy on the extreme right. The US was founding specifically to reject “top down” government thus has no history of monarchy as other nations do. We are citizens not subjects. This is American Exceptionalism; exceptional in that it is different than any other form of governance. While you seek a centrist position, somewhere between Socialism and Fascism, here centrists are simply neither here nor there. In my opinion, on matters of grave moral importance there is no centrist position; no gray area. Examples would be Capital punishment, abortion, war, free speech, the right to bear arms, private property etc.
Keep up the good work regarding free speech. I wish you luck but in the Canadian system, such as it is, you lack the Constitutional mandate we enjoy in America. If they do manage to destroy your career, I strongly recommend you seek citizenship in the USA. We can use a guy like you!
Have you every heard of a constitutional monarchy? The Queen in Canada, Australia, Great Britain is a figure head only and wields no power. Canada has a bill or rights and free speech is enshrined. You might want to do a bit more reading and less cheat thumping!
In the research project you announced about political orientation, please consider the factor that 20% of females aged 15-44 are on hormonal contraception and in essence their brains are always in pregnant mode. You had said several time recently that female SJWs seem to be acting like mothers protecting their infants. I wonder if there is any correlation between HC and being a SJW. In essence, has the Pill also swung our society more towards the left than it otherwise might have gone?
Hello Dr. Peterson,
I was wondering what you thought of the Pragmatic school of thought, i.e. Dewey, James, Rorty,etc. I’ve been reading them for some time now and find some similarity between yourself and them.
Love your book and the self authoring suite, and your recent turn in the media. Keep on fighting the good fight.
Signed,
Xim Xyrs Xe
Ha! I kid
Josh
Strange. Tonight, the thought crossed my mind that Peterson is a pragmatist. Then, i saw your query. Peterson refrains from spending time on a topic which has ni cash value. That is pragmatic.
In one of your lectures you said religion decreased in the face of the rising tide of science. Bang on! I strongly suggest you read ‘Understanding the Present-Science and the Soul of Modern Man’ by Bryan Appleyard who is also a writer with The Times and The Sunday Times.
Just a word to tell you how highly impressive I found your ottawa talk of March 12. I am Canadian, but now teaching in France, since my own country has refused me an academic career in reason of the bullshit that you take head on in this talk.
Dr. Peterson,
Hello. my name is Paul and I am a Post Grad Archaeologist/Ancient Historian and a lover of social science at Macquarie Uni in Australia. I am of course therefore a huge fan of Socrates/Plato and wanted to pose a question to you. However, firstly I must add that most (vast majority) of my friends would consider me as a far/alt right winger, though my girlfriend considers me a ‘leftie’ mostly due to my views on climate change. I see Sam Harris, is trying to re-create a new centre of politics (as are a few politicians in Australia), and though I applaud his ideals, however, I would suspect his ideal is doomed. I mentioned Socrates because (at least as portrayed by Plato) he wouldn’t have cared less about anything but right or wrong regarding each issue. I know its no easy matter, but should we be trying to get away from the simplistic left/right scale…which I will take the liberty to assume you might agree, and how can we change it to an issue based dichotomy rather than an ideological one?
Paul Stuckless
February 22, 2017 at 1:45 am - Reply
Hello Dr. Peterson
Love your work and do absolutely share your views and concerns about our present PC climate. What an utter waste of time and resources. I was wondering about the pronoun problem and a chilling realization dawned on me as a possible solution. No he no she… comrade… that’s just scary.
Daunell Lapointe
January 26, 2017 at 8:55 pm - Reply
Dr. Peterson,
Just wanted to say Thank you for all you are doing to save Free Speech in Canada!
I haven’t been a proud Canadian for a while… I know the struggle of being a student in Canada these days… Educated and unable to find work with large amounts of debt… I paid thousands upon thousands of dollars to go to a post secondary institution with hopes of being given the tools to perform in society, and build a life for myself.
In my time in BC, learning at my local University (VIU), I discovered that this institution decided feminist jargon about men’s contributions to rape culture and stagnation of women’s collective progress should be taught in my psychology classes, that gay couples are scientifically proven to be unable to commit domestic abuse in the English lectures I attended, and that Aboriginal supremacy is taught intermittently throughout my Marketing courses… This is just the courses I took… Never mind the ever-growing departments like “aboriginal studies” where you could learn about how aboriginals have more rights in society and somehow simultaneously also twist the context as to state that they are still oppressed figures in that same society; Or “women’s studies” where you can take courses like “history” but without men…
Events occurred sporadically about trans-gender issues including destruction of property; removing bathroom door signs, caused by a healthy number of students who figured theft of school property was an appropriate means to say “no” to gendered washrooms, and more events of a similar ilk.
As a white man, I was unable to apply to roughly half of the
scholarships that would normally be available to me (scholarships for general students, or those enrolled in my field of study) because they said
“women only” or “aboriginals only”, and sometimes even “Aboriginal Women
only”.
During my graduation, I was made to bow and give my thanks to the natives of Vancouver Island for “using their land” while I sat in the back of the theatre, where I was awaiting my plaque to be handed to me. Guest speakers flooded the main stage to state that “the women graduating this year deserve more applause than the men because during their time at University they had to face the oppresion men have bestown onto them”… I was disgraced in front of a crowd of people for my theft of native land, and my misogyny, just because of my race and sex… An ironic twist on the behalf of the people who claim to fight for injustice against sexism and racism…
I decided to give my story, but what I really only came here to say is:
Thank you for looking out for the rights of 100% of people, not just pandering to the whims of 0.03%.
Well put Brad. I’d like to ask an authority on this matter whether there might be a legal remedy to the situation you rightly portray in your comments. I’m owner of a small business that attempts to deliver economic development services to municipalities in the developing world. But many of my clients require access to the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives to access our services. However, CFLI funds are limited to organizations of women and girls. And development strategies like mine that promote the progress of everyone, regardless of gender, are excluded. Do we have legal recourse? If not, why not? Thanks Brad
Daniel
Bruce Hitchcock
January 12, 2017 at 12:12 am - Reply
Hello Dr Peterson,
Just wanted to let you know that your ideas are spreading. I’m in New Zealand and am following your lectures on maps of meaning from last year. I have a few Facebook freinds who are also interested in your ideas.
Although I have lost one freind who thinks that I am or am becoming a bigot I would like to thank you for standing up for truth in this ‘post-truth’ world.
I’m sorry I can’t financially support your work but the least I can do is thank you for continuing my education.
So thanks a lot!
Greetings Dr. Peterson, I’ve just watched Your New Year’s Letter to the World. Wow. Talk about telling the truth. I want to thank you for your abundant courage in speaking your truth and revealing to the world your heartache and struggle. Puts me in mind of another public figure who died on a cross 2000 years ago to proclaim the truth. I was happy to hear that you are a Christian as I am one too. My spirit sank on some level as I watched your moments of great pain during your video. I felt in those moments that you were talking to yourself and describing your struggle as you explained what leads to chaos in the individual and in the world. I think it may be beneficial for you to remember Jesus’ struggle when you are plunged into chaos and to derive Hope from your Christian values. Although it appears as if the world is in chaos and sinking further because it is there is still hope. By sacrificing Himself Jesus DEFEATED once and for all chaos, death, and evil. Though those bad things still run rampant in this world; they have lost their ultimate power. Remember that. But it’s necessary, every morning, for individuals to pray/talk/converse meaningfully with God. That is so important because Jesus who sacrificed his life is a gentle and humble, all powerful and loving God who knocks gently on the doors of our hearts and mind every single morning. If we don’t respond with communication, then we are on our own at our own peril. That is because Satan and all his evil minions are door crashers, uninvited jabberwockies who will bust into our minds uninvited and wreak havoc seeking to destroy our Spirit. Please don’t let the burdens of this world trouble you to the point of illness. Trust in Jesus and if you do tell Him so. Out loud, then see what happens. Peace to you and your loved ones (even if they don’t always love you back :). And God bless you Dr. Peterson!
As a person who was reared by an Evangelical Christian mother in the 1950’s, I tossed overboard my Faith as soon as I left home for college in 1967. I have struggled with the “conflict” between the scientific worldview and the religious ever since. By nature a skeptic and empiricist, I suppose the closest philosophy to my heart is a form of Ayn Rand’s Objectivism, in large part due to the preeminence of the Individual and her first-hand revulsion at socialism.
I discovered your lecture on Science and Religion by way of your interview with Joe Rogan on YouTube. When I heard you say, “I have thought a lot about this subject (Science/Religion) for 40 years, and for 20 years about little else”, I knew I had finally found a truly rational, intelligent, and well-read thinker who was personally obsessed by the same questions as I. You are the first scholar I have heard explain in plain English the validity of the hero archetype in Western thought and the foundational truth found in religious principles, predating modern science by millennia.
I watched your “Letter to the World” on YouTube yesterday, and I am very concerned about your obvious exhaustion. In an amazingly short period of time, I have become deeply interested in your life and work. Please take a well-earned respite!
Thanks so much for all the videos and podcasts. Peace be unto you and all whom you love and cherish. Happy New Year. SD
I’m not a social media person but we share a deep concern: sanity vs fascistoid “liberalism”. Check out “the Zen Itch” which reflects some of my concerns.
I think you stance on sanity, your intelligence, and your passion are . . quite quite . . and that coming from me means more than you might know.
Talk to me
It is so sad to see the effectivenes with which the moral relativists are turning Canada into what I run away from as a political refugee: a communist Poland where the free speech was surpressed approximately to the same degree as it is in now Canada and the West. Just the content of what constitute the breach is different, not the intensity of prosecution of the dissidents.
I must admit that it was interesting to find your videos. Thank God for the the internet. Many of us are quite alone in our positions and its always comforting to see others with the same beliefs. It shores up our will to fight against the “machine”. It’s funny, but mainly through accident, I have read many books on your reading list. And yes, though many don’t see it, we’re in the midst of a profound spiritual battle.
I hope I’m not being rude but I would like to recommend a couple of books to you which are in keeping with your booklist.
Diary of a Man in Despair, by Freidrich Reck-Malleczewen. People miss the significance of this book, seeing it as a diatriabe against Hitler, where its deeper significance lays in recognising the moral rot that had set in, in German society, at the time.
Sebastian Haffner’s, Defying Hitler. Once again, Haffner shows how individual moral failure allowed the rise of totalitarian evil. I must admit when I heard about your refusal bend to the use of genderless pronouns, I was struck by the similarities between yourself and the members of the “Prussian, Kammergericht” at the time of Frederick the Great. Have a read of the book. You’ll understand.
From an academic aspect, I really recommend the work of Roger Griffin. Especially his books Fascism and Modernism, and, A Fascist Century. Griffin recognises that Fascism is a competing alternative to Communism, in that both are Modernist heresies. He’s good in that he understands that the appeal of ideologies frequently rests on their psychological, rather than “logical” qualities.
Finally, I understand that you’re working at the Uni of T. I understand that Keith Stanovich works their as well and I think that your work and his “overlap”. His work on the problems of intelligence and rationality, specifically his concept of the “cognitive miser” maps well onto your work of ideological formation. i.e. Cognitive misers have dispositional weakness to certain totalitarian ideologies given the nature of their thought.
Thank you for all you are doing. Perhaps it is obvious to you how welcome your voice and logic are now, in the midst of so much that is threatening to our natural thought and freedom.
I wish to suggest that what we are seeing has been carefully planned and is being imposed externally. That view offers a context for your excellent philosophical lectures and your other work to make logical and social sense of what we are facing philosophically, socially, and morally, and to help people hold the line themselves against the threat to thought itself, including (but far from limited) the totalitarian language enforcement, universities’ removal of academic freedom around specific topics, and government’s removal of freedom of speech.
This context does not in any way negate what you are doing to try to hold the line for sane thought and human freedom to think, but instead treats the tightening noose of control we are experiencing around language (and much else), as created intentionally and imposed on us politically as 1. one of the most extreme forms of divide and conquer and 2. one of the most deep forms of dissolution of society (around male/female relationships and family itself.)
Those behind this thought control become more clear when the specific topics to be avoided are looked at.
1. Asking questions (previously seen a characteristic of Jews) about the Holocaust would, according to a new US law, define me as antisemitic though I’m Jewish and though antisemitic itself is not defined in the law. It would also do the same to anyone supporting a boycott of Israel for its genocide of Palestinians.
2. A form of thought control or Doubt or Built-in debunking, was actually invented in 1969 by the US government to shut down questioning of JFK’s demise, through the term “conspiracy theory.”
3. Work investigating pedophile groups in DC and possible satanic ritual abuse of children exposed by leaked emails of US
government officials (with wikileaks having a perfect 10 year history
of never posting anything “fake” and 3 wikileaks people dead since
emails implicating the woman running for president began surfacing and
the head of wikileaks now missing) are being scrubbed from the
internet.
4. And little analyzed is what the pope recently said about such “scandals” – that the media should not spread “ugly” things, “even though they may be true” http://americagunban.com/tag/pizza-gate/ because thinking about such things is like “coprophilia” and coprophagia (an obsession with feces that gives rise to sexual arousal, and eating feces). So, the media shouldn’t spread “ugly” things and no one should think about them because spreading them (even if true) or the public thinking about them is a SIN. Here he has reduced freedom of thought to a religious sin. And given that he represents an organization that considers sin something one literally will burn in hell for eternally, what he said is not just fascist in terms of telling media to stop publishing investigations into possible heinous crimes against children, but stunning in terms of a melding of fear of the body and bodily functions and fear of thought in a way very similar to the Catholic church’s defining masturbation as a mortal sin – one reason given is that looking at a woman and later masturbating, is rape. The difference is that pope is not telling individual journalists that if they masturbate they will go to hell but is telling media that their essential function in a free society – to expose wrong-doing – is a sin for which they can burn in hell.
5. The pope’s speech is relevant to ze and zer which are also about imposing almost impossible “mind orders” (and with penalties for not following them) on society that crush free thought. it is also relevant to homosexuality in the Catholic Church and its power internationally, not just publicly but through powerful secret societies that influence (control?) governments, universities, media, police, etc.
Dr. Peterson, perhaps you could do a lecture on the philosophical and
psychological implications of the Inquisition which was mind control – only think the way we wish or being tortured to death – (its office
still exists, it was never ended) and on what the protestant reformation was about
philosophically or even psychologically. Perhaps you could do a lecture on the Jesuits are (this
pope is Jesuit) and the import of their “extreme oath” http://www.reformation.org/jesuit-oath.html. How much of what is ordered in the extreme oath is visible in what is occurring today,
whether around wars; around attacking thought itself; around dissolution of society, of the family, of relationships, of sexuality; around false politicians; around false media (with
the real media being those whistle-blowing but being shut down as power
structures define the truth as “fake news” or even a sin); around the nightmare of what has been done for centuries and is still being done to children.
The context, though, is even larger than this insertion of erosive or explosive issues for political reasons, but to understand that larger context, people would have to be open to much they may never have considered and may not be willing to consider another view of who we are, even if the potential answer to that could be a remarkable and positive response to philosophical questions, and would end nihilism for good.
Simon Parkes’ lectures and interviews give that gigantic context. Whether it is real is for people to think about or even discuss and to decide for themselves. Here is Mr. Parkes in a conversation with Americans in Washington State and with references to the pope, and what is happening to our world and our ability to affect things. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjLKjn2AVwY
Hi, I just reviewed your appearance on Joe Rogan. I found it enjoyable and informative.
Concerning the use of pronouns reminds me of my time in the Canadian Armed Forces; in particular was the mandatory paying of compliments to a person of higher rank. It was stressed that junior members (especially) had to address senior members by their rank and even legislated in the national defence act and supporting documents. While I am sure that most non-commissioned officers enforced this rule (and similar rules) as part of an overall strategy to maintain the discipline necessary to administer a military organization; I think that there were some adverse effects that took place within the military and that these adverse effects would be amplified when a similar program (such as proper pronoun enforcement legislation) were placed on a non militarized population. The adverse effects include harassment and degradation. Recent news reports about sexual assault and harassment in the CAF highlight the real problem. Civilian side, I see even bigger concerns. How can a person clearly identify themselves as a person of atypical gender expression. Does everyone wear name tags with gender label on them at all times. What processes are in place to ensure fair implementation? Are there investigations and if so- who investigates? How does one defend against complaints or appeal decisions? These questions are answered in the military, but do not apply in a civilian environment. Given the lack of structure in our society, these rules seem to be impossible to systematically and fairly enforce and will likely produce undesirable results such as ruined careers, arbitrary fines and stunted dissemination of ideas.
Thanks so very much Professor. I’m a big fan of Aristotelian based ethics.. formal and final causes.. or sanity as I like to call it and it is so very refreshing to see a man stand up against the tired and stupid destructive anarchist aresponsible marxist and postmodern effluence that damages the heart and soul of the west. It still astonishes that anyone can actually buy this arrested development. You are a man of honour sir and I greatly admire you. May we all emulate your fine example.
Professor, I am looking for more information on the quasi judicial committees being established on University Campuses that you spoke about in your Radio Canada International interview recently. I found this quite disturbing. I am trying to find more information. Could you please direct me to a source? Thank you for all you are doing.
I’d like to express my appreciation of your stand against the waves of the vandals and barbarians that have through out history have only made the world poorer and more savage.
I am old and quit school after Grade 12, so I fight the way all citizens through out history have fought against foreign occupiers, I talk to my children and grandchildren. They will live longer than these animals and topple their statutes.
By the way, i don’t have a URL, so I’m trying to make something up to fill in that blank.
Hello Jordan,
You are to be commended for your opposition to “political correctness” in different spheres. A friend who owns a Creation Science Museum sent me a link to your discussion with Ronald de Sousa, and after that, I checked a few more of your videos. I like that fact that you pause to think before you speak. I was once roundly criticized by a chap – he did not like what I had said, and said “and you think about what you are going to say, before you say it!” I took that as a compliment. So “good on ya” for that, sir! Welcome to the club!
Your opposition to the concept that CEOs should reflect the colour (or any other irrelevant attribute) of the population at large is well put. The issues of disciplined thought, sacrifice, and hard work are crucial to significant progress, and being dealt a good hand in the game is also quite helpful – but they are obviously irrelevant to the cheerleaders of nonsense.
When you made the point about “they are coming for you next”, I thought of Martin Niemoller’s comment about there being no one left to complain when they finally came for him. Certainly we cannot hide, and let others be harassed while we are silent.
It seems we have swapped provinces – I was born in the bush of north-western Ontario, and moved to Calgary in 1969 to go to university, and stayed in Alberta. My parents were both from Alberta. I have never been in Fairview, but have driven close by multiple times on my way to do field automation work in Rainbow Lake, some years ago.
Perhaps we will be close enough some time to share a chat over a Tim Horton’s iced cap. Until then, may God guide you, and keep you in the palm of His hand!
Regards,
Dan R. Mackie
Incidentally, I tried to fill in our company website, but your website code refused it. http://www.DrSCADA.com is valid.
Patricia Lawrence
November 26, 2016 at 5:53 pm - Reply
Hello Dr Peterson,
I am experiencing a similar situation at The British Columbia Institute of Technology, where I teach communications. Having voiced my opinion on the idiocy of using “they” for the singular, my job is in jeopardy. Unlike yourself, I am a contract instructor, so do not have the protection of tenure, although, after seeing what U of T is doing to you, I no long believe tenure would offer much protection. I have even been told by the president of the faculty association, our bargaining unit, that should I not be hired next semester, the association would not support my grievance. The president of the association places herself somewhere along the spectrum of LGBTQ.
My colleagues all have jumped on this pronoun bandwagon. Not one of them had the guts to support my views at our last department meeting.
What you are doing takes great courage, and I just wanted to let you know you have my utmost respect.
Good for you Patricia. You’ve decided to go through life as a human being. Who ever thought that we were so close to the gulag the good professor speaks of.
I would really like to see/hear Jordan Peterson and RICHARD ROHR discuss how the bible, Faith in God and the ‘contemplative mind’ work together.
Richard is a Roman Catholic Franciscan priest who has written many books relating how the Protestant and catholIc church have misread Jesus’ teaching with the ‘dualistic mind’
I have never, ever, signed up for a website like this.
I do respect Jordan and Richards views
These would be two voices of reason in an ego-driven world.
Richard founded the centre for Action and Contemplation on 1986.
http://www.caradicalgrace.org based in Albuquerque, New Mexico
You would be doing the world a favour by getting these two great minds together.
It would be interesting to see the many areas where Richard and Jordan concur
Where can I get involved in or learn about your efforts to create a new online University? I’ve done about 50% of my BS in Computer Science online (through UMUC), and I’m currently 1 out of 6 semesters through my MS in Applied Computer Science (University of West Georgia, 100% online). I’m also taking some Coursera courses just to refresh (and hopefully exceed) what I have forgotten during the 36 years since High School. I’m interested in continuing to learn, in helping others to do so, and in convincing others of the importance of doing so. Thanks!
Sorry if I posted this in the wrong spot. I couldn’t find any information about this effort elsewhere on the site.
“I live as if he does exist.” Most evidently my friend, and who’s to say? Keep up the divine sword and slash away all the confusion bent up in the heart of men that causes so much transgression in our reality against our fellow man and against ourselves; it’s our duty and we should want to do that. Once made aware at least.
Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
Romans 1:19-20 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”
I take exception to your view of “Liberal vs Conservative”. As an American, I think you are in error considering Liberals to be about openness and Conservatives about order. You make the argument that Liberals or Leftists in the extreme are about anarchy and Conservatives or Rightists in the extreme being about tyranny. Here in the US, Leftists are about tyranny and Rightists are about liberty. I think a good way to look at it is that Liberals have become Progressive deconstructionists of our system and Conservatives have become those seeking to conserve classical liberal values. Those on the Right in the US are not about any sort of tyranny (the most government possible), In fact, they are for individual liberty (the least government possible). In every other country, they have a system based on tyranny in various degrees. An illustration would be a vertical railroad track with tyranny at the top. The left rail is Socialism, the right rail is Fascism. The US illustration would be a horizontal line with tyranny on the extreme left and anarchy on the extreme right. The US was founding specifically to reject “top down” government thus has no history of monarchy as other nations do. We are citizens not subjects. This is American Exceptionalism; exceptional in that it is different than any other form of governance. While you seek a centrist position, somewhere between Socialism and Fascism, here centrists are simply neither here nor there. In my opinion, on matters of grave moral importance there is no centrist position; no gray area. Examples would be Capital punishment, abortion, war, free speech, the right to bear arms, private property etc.
Keep up the good work regarding free speech. I wish you luck but in the Canadian system, such as it is, you lack the Constitutional mandate we enjoy in America. If they do manage to destroy your career, I strongly recommend you seek citizenship in the USA. We can use a guy like you!
Have you every heard of a constitutional monarchy? The Queen in Canada, Australia, Great Britain is a figure head only and wields no power. Canada has a bill or rights and free speech is enshrined. You might want to do a bit more reading and less cheat thumping!
Dr. Peterson, you are a breath of fresh air and I love your message. It is encouraging my children to buck up and do something with their lives.
This was just posted at the Daily Wire and might interest you:
http://www.dailywire.com/news/17977/russians-rate-josef-stalin-most-outstanding-person-michael-qazvini
In the research project you announced about political orientation, please consider the factor that 20% of females aged 15-44 are on hormonal contraception and in essence their brains are always in pregnant mode. You had said several time recently that female SJWs seem to be acting like mothers protecting their infants. I wonder if there is any correlation between HC and being a SJW. In essence, has the Pill also swung our society more towards the left than it otherwise might have gone?
Hello Dr. Peterson,
I was wondering what you thought of the Pragmatic school of thought, i.e. Dewey, James, Rorty,etc. I’ve been reading them for some time now and find some similarity between yourself and them.
Love your book and the self authoring suite, and your recent turn in the media. Keep on fighting the good fight.
Signed,
Xim Xyrs Xe
Ha! I kid
Josh
Strange. Tonight, the thought crossed my mind that Peterson is a pragmatist. Then, i saw your query. Peterson refrains from spending time on a topic which has ni cash value. That is pragmatic.
In one of your lectures you said religion decreased in the face of the rising tide of science. Bang on! I strongly suggest you read ‘Understanding the Present-Science and the Soul of Modern Man’ by Bryan Appleyard who is also a writer with The Times and The Sunday Times.
Just a word to tell you how highly impressive I found your ottawa talk of March 12. I am Canadian, but now teaching in France, since my own country has refused me an academic career in reason of the bullshit that you take head on in this talk.
Dr. Peterson,
Hello. my name is Paul and I am a Post Grad Archaeologist/Ancient Historian and a lover of social science at Macquarie Uni in Australia. I am of course therefore a huge fan of Socrates/Plato and wanted to pose a question to you. However, firstly I must add that most (vast majority) of my friends would consider me as a far/alt right winger, though my girlfriend considers me a ‘leftie’ mostly due to my views on climate change. I see Sam Harris, is trying to re-create a new centre of politics (as are a few politicians in Australia), and though I applaud his ideals, however, I would suspect his ideal is doomed. I mentioned Socrates because (at least as portrayed by Plato) he wouldn’t have cared less about anything but right or wrong regarding each issue. I know its no easy matter, but should we be trying to get away from the simplistic left/right scale…which I will take the liberty to assume you might agree, and how can we change it to an issue based dichotomy rather than an ideological one?
Hello Dr. Peterson
Love your work and do absolutely share your views and concerns about our present PC climate. What an utter waste of time and resources. I was wondering about the pronoun problem and a chilling realization dawned on me as a possible solution. No he no she… comrade… that’s just scary.
Dr. Peterson,
Just wanted to say Thank you for all you are doing to save Free Speech in Canada!
I haven’t been a proud Canadian for a while… I know the struggle of being a student in Canada these days… Educated and unable to find work with large amounts of debt… I paid thousands upon thousands of dollars to go to a post secondary institution with hopes of being given the tools to perform in society, and build a life for myself.
In my time in BC, learning at my local University (VIU), I discovered that this institution decided feminist jargon about men’s contributions to rape culture and stagnation of women’s collective progress should be taught in my psychology classes, that gay couples are scientifically proven to be unable to commit domestic abuse in the English lectures I attended, and that Aboriginal supremacy is taught intermittently throughout my Marketing courses… This is just the courses I took… Never mind the ever-growing departments like “aboriginal studies” where you could learn about how aboriginals have more rights in society and somehow simultaneously also twist the context as to state that they are still oppressed figures in that same society; Or “women’s studies” where you can take courses like “history” but without men…
Events occurred sporadically about trans-gender issues including destruction of property; removing bathroom door signs, caused by a healthy number of students who figured theft of school property was an appropriate means to say “no” to gendered washrooms, and more events of a similar ilk.
As a white man, I was unable to apply to roughly half of the
scholarships that would normally be available to me (scholarships for general students, or those enrolled in my field of study) because they said
“women only” or “aboriginals only”, and sometimes even “Aboriginal Women
only”.
During my graduation, I was made to bow and give my thanks to the natives of Vancouver Island for “using their land” while I sat in the back of the theatre, where I was awaiting my plaque to be handed to me. Guest speakers flooded the main stage to state that “the women graduating this year deserve more applause than the men because during their time at University they had to face the oppresion men have bestown onto them”… I was disgraced in front of a crowd of people for my theft of native land, and my misogyny, just because of my race and sex… An ironic twist on the behalf of the people who claim to fight for injustice against sexism and racism…
I decided to give my story, but what I really only came here to say is:
Thank you for looking out for the rights of 100% of people, not just pandering to the whims of 0.03%.
I respect you.
Well put Brad. I’d like to ask an authority on this matter whether there might be a legal remedy to the situation you rightly portray in your comments. I’m owner of a small business that attempts to deliver economic development services to municipalities in the developing world. But many of my clients require access to the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives to access our services. However, CFLI funds are limited to organizations of women and girls. And development strategies like mine that promote the progress of everyone, regardless of gender, are excluded. Do we have legal recourse? If not, why not? Thanks Brad
Daniel
Hello Dr Peterson,
Just wanted to let you know that your ideas are spreading. I’m in New Zealand and am following your lectures on maps of meaning from last year. I have a few Facebook freinds who are also interested in your ideas.
Although I have lost one freind who thinks that I am or am becoming a bigot I would like to thank you for standing up for truth in this ‘post-truth’ world.
I’m sorry I can’t financially support your work but the least I can do is thank you for continuing my education.
So thanks a lot!
Best wishes,
Bruce Hitchcock
Greetings Dr. Peterson, I’ve just watched Your New Year’s Letter to the World. Wow. Talk about telling the truth. I want to thank you for your abundant courage in speaking your truth and revealing to the world your heartache and struggle. Puts me in mind of another public figure who died on a cross 2000 years ago to proclaim the truth. I was happy to hear that you are a Christian as I am one too. My spirit sank on some level as I watched your moments of great pain during your video. I felt in those moments that you were talking to yourself and describing your struggle as you explained what leads to chaos in the individual and in the world. I think it may be beneficial for you to remember Jesus’ struggle when you are plunged into chaos and to derive Hope from your Christian values. Although it appears as if the world is in chaos and sinking further because it is there is still hope. By sacrificing Himself Jesus DEFEATED once and for all chaos, death, and evil. Though those bad things still run rampant in this world; they have lost their ultimate power. Remember that. But it’s necessary, every morning, for individuals to pray/talk/converse meaningfully with God. That is so important because Jesus who sacrificed his life is a gentle and humble, all powerful and loving God who knocks gently on the doors of our hearts and mind every single morning. If we don’t respond with communication, then we are on our own at our own peril. That is because Satan and all his evil minions are door crashers, uninvited jabberwockies who will bust into our minds uninvited and wreak havoc seeking to destroy our Spirit. Please don’t let the burdens of this world trouble you to the point of illness. Trust in Jesus and if you do tell Him so. Out loud, then see what happens. Peace to you and your loved ones (even if they don’t always love you back :). And God bless you Dr. Peterson!
Dear Dr. Peterson,
As a person who was reared by an Evangelical Christian mother in the 1950’s, I tossed overboard my Faith as soon as I left home for college in 1967. I have struggled with the “conflict” between the scientific worldview and the religious ever since. By nature a skeptic and empiricist, I suppose the closest philosophy to my heart is a form of Ayn Rand’s Objectivism, in large part due to the preeminence of the Individual and her first-hand revulsion at socialism.
I discovered your lecture on Science and Religion by way of your interview with Joe Rogan on YouTube. When I heard you say, “I have thought a lot about this subject (Science/Religion) for 40 years, and for 20 years about little else”, I knew I had finally found a truly rational, intelligent, and well-read thinker who was personally obsessed by the same questions as I. You are the first scholar I have heard explain in plain English the validity of the hero archetype in Western thought and the foundational truth found in religious principles, predating modern science by millennia.
I watched your “Letter to the World” on YouTube yesterday, and I am very concerned about your obvious exhaustion. In an amazingly short period of time, I have become deeply interested in your life and work. Please take a well-earned respite!
Thanks so much for all the videos and podcasts. Peace be unto you and all whom you love and cherish. Happy New Year. SD
I’m not a social media person but we share a deep concern: sanity vs fascistoid “liberalism”. Check out “the Zen Itch” which reflects some of my concerns.
I think you stance on sanity, your intelligence, and your passion are . . quite quite . . and that coming from me means more than you might know.
Talk to me
Wolfgang Nebmaier
It is so sad to see the effectivenes with which the moral relativists are turning Canada into what I run away from as a political refugee: a communist Poland where the free speech was surpressed approximately to the same degree as it is in now Canada and the West. Just the content of what constitute the breach is different, not the intensity of prosecution of the dissidents.
I must admit that it was interesting to find your videos. Thank God for the the internet. Many of us are quite alone in our positions and its always comforting to see others with the same beliefs. It shores up our will to fight against the “machine”. It’s funny, but mainly through accident, I have read many books on your reading list. And yes, though many don’t see it, we’re in the midst of a profound spiritual battle.
I hope I’m not being rude but I would like to recommend a couple of books to you which are in keeping with your booklist.
Diary of a Man in Despair, by Freidrich Reck-Malleczewen. People miss the significance of this book, seeing it as a diatriabe against Hitler, where its deeper significance lays in recognising the moral rot that had set in, in German society, at the time.
Sebastian Haffner’s, Defying Hitler. Once again, Haffner shows how individual moral failure allowed the rise of totalitarian evil. I must admit when I heard about your refusal bend to the use of genderless pronouns, I was struck by the similarities between yourself and the members of the “Prussian, Kammergericht” at the time of Frederick the Great. Have a read of the book. You’ll understand.
Whittaker Chambers, Cold Friday. Once again, unlike many, you’ll “get it”.
From an academic aspect, I really recommend the work of Roger Griffin. Especially his books Fascism and Modernism, and, A Fascist Century. Griffin recognises that Fascism is a competing alternative to Communism, in that both are Modernist heresies. He’s good in that he understands that the appeal of ideologies frequently rests on their psychological, rather than “logical” qualities.
Finally, I understand that you’re working at the Uni of T. I understand that Keith Stanovich works their as well and I think that your work and his “overlap”. His work on the problems of intelligence and rationality, specifically his concept of the “cognitive miser” maps well onto your work of ideological formation. i.e. Cognitive misers have dispositional weakness to certain totalitarian ideologies given the nature of their thought.
I hope we meet one day.
God Bless.
Dr. Peterson,
Thank you for all you are doing. Perhaps it is obvious to you how welcome your voice and logic are now, in the midst of so much that is threatening to our natural thought and freedom.
I wish to suggest that what we are seeing has been carefully planned and is being imposed externally. That view offers a context for your excellent philosophical lectures and your other work to make logical and social sense of what we are facing philosophically, socially, and morally, and to help people hold the line themselves against the threat to thought itself, including (but far from limited) the totalitarian language enforcement, universities’ removal of academic freedom around specific topics, and government’s removal of freedom of speech.
This context does not in any way negate what you are doing to try to hold the line for sane thought and human freedom to think, but instead treats the tightening noose of control we are experiencing around language (and much else), as created intentionally and imposed on us politically as 1. one of the most extreme forms of divide and conquer and 2. one of the most deep forms of dissolution of society (around male/female relationships and family itself.)
Those behind this thought control become more clear when the specific topics to be avoided are looked at.
1. Asking questions (previously seen a characteristic of Jews) about the Holocaust would, according to a new US law, define me as antisemitic though I’m Jewish and though antisemitic itself is not defined in the law. It would also do the same to anyone supporting a boycott of Israel for its genocide of Palestinians.
2. A form of thought control or Doubt or Built-in debunking, was actually invented in 1969 by the US government to shut down questioning of JFK’s demise, through the term “conspiracy theory.”
3. Work investigating pedophile groups in DC and possible satanic ritual abuse of children exposed by leaked emails of US
government officials (with wikileaks having a perfect 10 year history
of never posting anything “fake” and 3 wikileaks people dead since
emails implicating the woman running for president began surfacing and
the head of wikileaks now missing) are being scrubbed from the
internet.
4. And little analyzed is what the pope recently said about such “scandals” – that the media should not spread “ugly” things, “even though they may be true” http://americagunban.com/tag/pizza-gate/ because thinking about such things is like “coprophilia” and coprophagia (an obsession with feces that gives rise to sexual arousal, and eating feces). So, the media shouldn’t spread “ugly” things and no one should think about them because spreading them (even if true) or the public thinking about them is a SIN. Here he has reduced freedom of thought to a religious sin. And given that he represents an organization that considers sin something one literally will burn in hell for eternally, what he said is not just fascist in terms of telling media to stop publishing investigations into possible heinous crimes against children, but stunning in terms of a melding of fear of the body and bodily functions and fear of thought in a way very similar to the Catholic church’s defining masturbation as a mortal sin – one reason given is that looking at a woman and later masturbating, is rape. The difference is that pope is not telling individual journalists that if they masturbate they will go to hell but is telling media that their essential function in a free society – to expose wrong-doing – is a sin for which they can burn in hell.
5. The pope’s speech is relevant to ze and zer which are also about imposing almost impossible “mind orders” (and with penalties for not following them) on society that crush free thought. it is also relevant to homosexuality in the Catholic Church and its power internationally, not just publicly but through powerful secret societies that influence (control?) governments, universities, media, police, etc.
Dr. Peterson, perhaps you could do a lecture on the philosophical and
psychological implications of the Inquisition which was mind control – only think the way we wish or being tortured to death – (its office
still exists, it was never ended) and on what the protestant reformation was about
philosophically or even psychologically. Perhaps you could do a lecture on the Jesuits are (this
pope is Jesuit) and the import of their “extreme oath”
http://www.reformation.org/jesuit-oath.html. How much of what is ordered in the extreme oath is visible in what is occurring today,
whether around wars; around attacking thought itself; around dissolution of society, of the family, of relationships, of sexuality; around false politicians; around false media (with
the real media being those whistle-blowing but being shut down as power
structures define the truth as “fake news” or even a sin); around the nightmare of what has been done for centuries and is still being done to children.
The context, though, is even larger than this insertion of erosive or explosive issues for political reasons, but to understand that larger context, people would have to be open to much they may never have considered and may not be willing to consider another view of who we are, even if the potential answer to that could be a remarkable and positive response to philosophical questions, and would end nihilism for good.
Simon Parkes’ lectures and interviews give that gigantic context. Whether it is real is for people to think about or even discuss and to decide for themselves. Here is Mr. Parkes in a conversation with Americans in Washington State and with references to the pope, and what is happening to our world and our ability to affect things. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjLKjn2AVwY
Thank you for your courage. Keep up the good fight.
Hi, I just reviewed your appearance on Joe Rogan. I found it enjoyable and informative.
Concerning the use of pronouns reminds me of my time in the Canadian Armed Forces; in particular was the mandatory paying of compliments to a person of higher rank. It was stressed that junior members (especially) had to address senior members by their rank and even legislated in the national defence act and supporting documents. While I am sure that most non-commissioned officers enforced this rule (and similar rules) as part of an overall strategy to maintain the discipline necessary to administer a military organization; I think that there were some adverse effects that took place within the military and that these adverse effects would be amplified when a similar program (such as proper pronoun enforcement legislation) were placed on a non militarized population. The adverse effects include harassment and degradation. Recent news reports about sexual assault and harassment in the CAF highlight the real problem. Civilian side, I see even bigger concerns. How can a person clearly identify themselves as a person of atypical gender expression. Does everyone wear name tags with gender label on them at all times. What processes are in place to ensure fair implementation? Are there investigations and if so- who investigates? How does one defend against complaints or appeal decisions? These questions are answered in the military, but do not apply in a civilian environment. Given the lack of structure in our society, these rules seem to be impossible to systematically and fairly enforce and will likely produce undesirable results such as ruined careers, arbitrary fines and stunted dissemination of ideas.
Thanks so very much Professor. I’m a big fan of Aristotelian based ethics.. formal and final causes.. or sanity as I like to call it and it is so very refreshing to see a man stand up against the tired and stupid destructive anarchist aresponsible marxist and postmodern effluence that damages the heart and soul of the west. It still astonishes that anyone can actually buy this arrested development. You are a man of honour sir and I greatly admire you. May we all emulate your fine example.
Professor, I am looking for more information on the quasi judicial committees being established on University Campuses that you spoke about in your Radio Canada International interview recently. I found this quite disturbing. I am trying to find more information. Could you please direct me to a source? Thank you for all you are doing.
Joanne
I’d like to express my appreciation of your stand against the waves of the vandals and barbarians that have through out history have only made the world poorer and more savage.
I am old and quit school after Grade 12, so I fight the way all citizens through out history have fought against foreign occupiers, I talk to my children and grandchildren. They will live longer than these animals and topple their statutes.
By the way, i don’t have a URL, so I’m trying to make something up to fill in that blank.
Hello Jordan,
You are to be commended for your opposition to “political correctness” in different spheres. A friend who owns a Creation Science Museum sent me a link to your discussion with Ronald de Sousa, and after that, I checked a few more of your videos. I like that fact that you pause to think before you speak. I was once roundly criticized by a chap – he did not like what I had said, and said “and you think about what you are going to say, before you say it!” I took that as a compliment. So “good on ya” for that, sir! Welcome to the club!
Your opposition to the concept that CEOs should reflect the colour (or any other irrelevant attribute) of the population at large is well put. The issues of disciplined thought, sacrifice, and hard work are crucial to significant progress, and being dealt a good hand in the game is also quite helpful – but they are obviously irrelevant to the cheerleaders of nonsense.
When you made the point about “they are coming for you next”, I thought of Martin Niemoller’s comment about there being no one left to complain when they finally came for him. Certainly we cannot hide, and let others be harassed while we are silent.
It seems we have swapped provinces – I was born in the bush of north-western Ontario, and moved to Calgary in 1969 to go to university, and stayed in Alberta. My parents were both from Alberta. I have never been in Fairview, but have driven close by multiple times on my way to do field automation work in Rainbow Lake, some years ago.
Perhaps we will be close enough some time to share a chat over a Tim Horton’s iced cap. Until then, may God guide you, and keep you in the palm of His hand!
Regards,
Dan R. Mackie
Incidentally, I tried to fill in our company website, but your website code refused it. http://www.DrSCADA.com is valid.
Hello Dr Peterson,
I am experiencing a similar situation at The British Columbia Institute of Technology, where I teach communications. Having voiced my opinion on the idiocy of using “they” for the singular, my job is in jeopardy. Unlike yourself, I am a contract instructor, so do not have the protection of tenure, although, after seeing what U of T is doing to you, I no long believe tenure would offer much protection. I have even been told by the president of the faculty association, our bargaining unit, that should I not be hired next semester, the association would not support my grievance. The president of the association places herself somewhere along the spectrum of LGBTQ.
My colleagues all have jumped on this pronoun bandwagon. Not one of them had the guts to support my views at our last department meeting.
What you are doing takes great courage, and I just wanted to let you know you have my utmost respect.
Good for you Patricia. You’ve decided to go through life as a human being. Who ever thought that we were so close to the gulag the good professor speaks of.