Brief Summary
This conversation with Jordan Peterson explores the importance of truth, self-awareness, and struggle in personal development and navigating life's challenges. Peterson emphasizes the need for individuals to confront their inadequacies, pursue meaningful goals, and engage in open dialogue to foster personal and societal growth. He also touches on the impact of technology and the importance of balancing virtual interactions with real-world experiences.
- Importance of truth and authenticity in relationships and personal growth.
- The role of struggle and chaos in finding fulfillment and meaning in life.
- The need for self-awareness and continuous self-improvement.
- The balance between technology and real-world experiences.
Intro
The host introduces Jordan Peterson, highlighting his commitment to truth and his impact on millions of lives. He expresses gratitude for Peterson's influence on his own life, particularly in understanding the importance of truth across all aspects of life. The host emphasizes that Peterson's pursuit of truth has enabled him to positively impact countless individuals.
Speaking my truth - the consequences of acting
The host discusses how embracing truth has strengthened his relationships, allowing for deeper connections by expressing his true thoughts and feelings. Peterson explains that people often create personas to mask their insecurities, hindering genuine connection. He references Carl Jung's idea that personas are necessary for social interaction but become problematic when they overshadow one's true self. The long-term consequence of acting is that the real person underneath is desperate and unhappy because nothing of what's being acted out reflects a true underlying reality. Peterson uses the analogy of Pinocchio to illustrate the dangers of being a puppet controlled by external forces, emphasizing the importance of self-authorship and authenticity.
How do you become who you want to be?
The host asks Peterson for advice for young people who are stifled by fear and choose the certain misery of their current situation over the uncertainty they'll encounter as they go on the adventure of their life. Peterson advises creating a detailed plan to address perceived inadequacies and pursue meaningful goals. He suggests updating resumes, addressing educational gaps, and seeking new job opportunities to gain leverage in current positions. Peterson stresses that even in the face of unfair circumstances, individuals should strive to put themselves in the most virtuous and powerful negotiating position possible.
How do you build self-awareness?
Peterson describes an exercise for building self-awareness, involving honest self-reflection and identifying one thing you're doing wrong that you could fix. He emphasizes the importance of humility and addressing small, concrete issues, such as organizing one's personal space, as a starting point for broader self-improvement. Peterson connects arrogance to a lack of self-awareness, noting that the Western world's privilege can lead to overlooking personal shortcomings. He also discusses the concept of "thrownness," the arbitrary circumstances of one's birth, and the existential guilt that comes with unearned privilege. Peterson suggests that the way to pay for privilege is with virtue, by living the best possible life, speaking the truth, and treating people with respect.
Whats the importance of struggle?
The host reflects on the role of struggle and chaos in his life, questioning the pursuit of a struggle-free existence. Peterson affirms that humans are built to walk uphill and derive value from the uphill climb. He explains that positive emotion is linked to pursuing a goal, ideally one that is never fully attainable. Peterson argues that the pursuit of such goals leads to personal growth and a richer life. He contrasts this with the emptiness of achieving an instrumental goal, such as wealth, without a higher purpose. Peterson uses the image of an active warrior moving uphill with a sword in hand as a metaphor for a fulfilling life.
Remote working
The host expresses his dislike for remote working, citing the loss of meaningful connections and the importance of the office as a social institution. Peterson acknowledges both the benefits and drawbacks of remote work, noting the difficulty of replicating embodied environments in the virtual world. He uses the example of online university to illustrate the potential loss of formative social experiences. Peterson emphasizes that virtualization may exclude vital elements of reality and that new technologies require careful management to avoid unintended consequences. He suggests balancing virtual interactions with privacy, culture, and intimate relationships.
What do we learn from change?
The host reflects on the tectonic shifts of the pandemic and personal challenges, questioning what lessons can be learned about what truly matters in life. Peterson argues that the overreaction to the pandemic was driven by naivety and a rush to imitate totalitarian societies. He criticizes the reliance on opinion polls rather than science in shaping COVID-19 policies. Peterson expresses concern about the long-term consequences of these policies, including supply chain disruptions and inflation. He suggests that the response to the pandemic may have caused more harm than the virus itself. Peterson advocates for individual responsibility and free dialogue as the best way forward in navigating complex challenges.
How do I encourage someone out of despair?
The host asks for advice on how to encourage someone out of despair without overpowering or stifling them. Peterson advises against assuming you know what is best for another person and emphasizes the importance of asking genuine questions and listening attentively. He explains that people will untangle themselves if you really listen. Peterson suggests aiming towards help in the spirit of ignorance. He recommends asking what their preconditions are for satisfaction.
How are you doing?
The host asks Peterson how he is doing. Peterson responds that he is doing both brilliantly and terribly. He explains that the best music spans the whole emotional experience, not just happiness. Peterson says that happiness is elevator music and that it lacks depth and is shallow. He says that deep suffering and beautiful transcendence is meaning.
Our last guest question
The host shares a question from a previous guest: "Why do you do what you do?" Peterson responds that he does what he does to see what will happen. He believes that truth will save the world. Peterson says that you speak truthfully and you watch what happens and you take your consequences. He says that faith isn't believing in things you regard as ridiculous sacrificing your intellect, it's a decision. The host thanks Peterson and commits to being truthful. Peterson says that at least it will help ensure that you won't make the world worse place.
