Stavros
09-02-2023, 12:07 PM
Jordan Peterson is angry, again.
"Last November, Peterson, a professor emeritus with the University of Toronto psychology department who is also an author and media commentator, was ordered by the College of Psychologists of Ontario to undergo a coaching program on professionalism in public statements.That followed numerous complaints to the governing body of Ontario psychologists, of which Peterson is a member, regarding his online commentary directed at politicians, a plus-sized model, and transgender actor Elliot Page, among other issues. You can read more about those social media posts here (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jordan-peterson-college-psychologists-tweets-1.6711524)."
Ontario court rules against Jordan Peterson, upholds social media training order | CBC News (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jordan-peterson-court-case-decision-1.6943845)
It seems to me, just on this issue, that there is a conflict between Peterson's right to free speech in general, but his membership of a body that has its own rules, where the two have come into conflict. Whether or not the case has merit thus involves an argument about membership of a body with rules -and Peterson has said he will take the course, to publicly demonstrate its wrongs- and a broader issue about 'Diversity training' and its related genres. Some of these are just corporate box ticking, but in some cases derived from the inherited prejudices that mean jobs are not distributed equally on merit but through 'established', er, hierarchies (see below).
For a partisan view that supports Peterson, this does a good job-
READ: Jordan Peterson's Free Speech Fight in Canada | Darntons (https://darntons.com/2023/09/01/read-jordan-petersons-free-speech-fight-in-canada/)
The problem is that Peterson is a man of contradictions and flimsy intellectual argument. He often argues that there is a 'natural hierarchy' that makes attempts -for example, by Women/Feminists- to demand equality in the workplace a waste of time, though he doesn't explain that if something is 'natural' it should also be desirable.
He is passionately opposed to the 'radical left' but doesn't seem to see any link between the term 'Cultural Marxism' as used in 2023, and the preceding version, KulturBolshewismus as used in Germany in 1933. I agree there is a confusing link at times between Marxism and Post-Modernism (whatever happened to the Class Struggle, comrades?), but that's their problem, and some have argued that he is himself a post-Modernist in spite of what he claims.
This interview with a Feminist philosopher challenges many of Peterson's arguments-
A feminist philosopher makes the case against Jordan Peterson - Vox (https://www.vox.com/conversations/2018/6/6/17409144/jordan-peterson-12-rules-for-life-feminism-philosophy)
I particularly like this: "When you’re accustomed to unjust privilege, equality feels like oppression..."
This list also offers an alternative critique
12 Reasons Why No One Should Ever Listen to Jordan Peterson Ever Again – Unikum (unikumnett.no) (https://www.unikumnett.no/2019/10/12-reasons-why-no-one-should-ever-listen-to-jordan-peterson-ever-again/)
Lastly this: at one time, the British held the League of Nations Mandate over former Ottoman territories in the Middle East. One of them became known as
Trans Jordan.
I will leave it there.
"Last November, Peterson, a professor emeritus with the University of Toronto psychology department who is also an author and media commentator, was ordered by the College of Psychologists of Ontario to undergo a coaching program on professionalism in public statements.That followed numerous complaints to the governing body of Ontario psychologists, of which Peterson is a member, regarding his online commentary directed at politicians, a plus-sized model, and transgender actor Elliot Page, among other issues. You can read more about those social media posts here (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jordan-peterson-college-psychologists-tweets-1.6711524)."
Ontario court rules against Jordan Peterson, upholds social media training order | CBC News (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jordan-peterson-court-case-decision-1.6943845)
It seems to me, just on this issue, that there is a conflict between Peterson's right to free speech in general, but his membership of a body that has its own rules, where the two have come into conflict. Whether or not the case has merit thus involves an argument about membership of a body with rules -and Peterson has said he will take the course, to publicly demonstrate its wrongs- and a broader issue about 'Diversity training' and its related genres. Some of these are just corporate box ticking, but in some cases derived from the inherited prejudices that mean jobs are not distributed equally on merit but through 'established', er, hierarchies (see below).
For a partisan view that supports Peterson, this does a good job-
READ: Jordan Peterson's Free Speech Fight in Canada | Darntons (https://darntons.com/2023/09/01/read-jordan-petersons-free-speech-fight-in-canada/)
The problem is that Peterson is a man of contradictions and flimsy intellectual argument. He often argues that there is a 'natural hierarchy' that makes attempts -for example, by Women/Feminists- to demand equality in the workplace a waste of time, though he doesn't explain that if something is 'natural' it should also be desirable.
He is passionately opposed to the 'radical left' but doesn't seem to see any link between the term 'Cultural Marxism' as used in 2023, and the preceding version, KulturBolshewismus as used in Germany in 1933. I agree there is a confusing link at times between Marxism and Post-Modernism (whatever happened to the Class Struggle, comrades?), but that's their problem, and some have argued that he is himself a post-Modernist in spite of what he claims.
This interview with a Feminist philosopher challenges many of Peterson's arguments-
A feminist philosopher makes the case against Jordan Peterson - Vox (https://www.vox.com/conversations/2018/6/6/17409144/jordan-peterson-12-rules-for-life-feminism-philosophy)
I particularly like this: "When you’re accustomed to unjust privilege, equality feels like oppression..."
This list also offers an alternative critique
12 Reasons Why No One Should Ever Listen to Jordan Peterson Ever Again – Unikum (unikumnett.no) (https://www.unikumnett.no/2019/10/12-reasons-why-no-one-should-ever-listen-to-jordan-peterson-ever-again/)
Lastly this: at one time, the British held the League of Nations Mandate over former Ottoman territories in the Middle East. One of them became known as
Trans Jordan.
I will leave it there.