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Jordan Peterson, at His Core, Teaches Personal Responsibility

“…for all of those who continue to maintain that Jordan Peterson is problematic because of something one of his followers somewhere did, keep in mind that—above all else—Jordan Peterson is a proponent of individuals taking responsibility for their own lives.”

In his recent Merion West article, Alessandro van den Berg issued a call to all who follow or support Jordan Peterson, requesting that they strive to be more like Jordan Peterson and practice what the man they so admire actually teaches. However, there was an important piece missing from van den Berg’s analysis. The fact of the matter is that right now, it is not clear if Jordan Peterson himself knows precisely what he wants, let alone what to tell the countless people all over the world who have found such comfort and inspiration in his work.

It is quite likely—as those of us who have followed Jordan Peterson’s life and career for decades (since his book Maps of Meaning was first published in 1999) suspect—that Peterson never expected to achieve such a massive following. As such, one can empathize with him as he seeks to cope with countless people hanging on his every word.

As a public figure, Jordan Peterson has spent the past few years—since his ascent to international fame—under a massive magnifying glass, as well as being on the receiving end of tremendous amounts of criticism. GQ has sought to portray him as a villain; The New York Times has tried to portray him as a pusherman for toxic masculinity, and Economist Radio presents him as an agent of chaos. These criticisms have been largely unfair, and, as I suggested in my interview with filmmaker Maziar Ghaderi, perhaps this avalanche of incessant media criticism has taken its toll on Peterson.

However, an important point is that much of the criticism directed toward Jordan Peterson has focused on the alleged conduct of his supporters and fans, as critics seek to tie Peterson to counter-cultural movements from the alt-right to the Incel community. (This, of course, comes at a time when occasions such as the ongoing Democratic primaries have raised the question of the degree to which a political or thought leader is responsible for the behavior of his or her supporters.)

Returning now to the interview with Ghaderi, who was, of course, the producer of the recent film The Rise of Jordan Peterson, one of the other key points Ghaderi and I discussed was how Jordan Peterson chooses to spend his time. I suggested that perhaps Peterson would be better served to spend his time in a way that might be arguably productive (of course, this is all assuming his health has returned to normal), rather than indulging in his habit, for instance, of sitting for interviews with publications that are known to treat him unfairly.

However, the bottom line is that—even if I would argue that he ought to spend his time differently—Peterson is entirely in control of the sovereign decisions he makes. Regardless of whether or not observers might suggest that Jordan Peterson do this or that, the fact of the matter is that it is up to him as an individual to do what he chooses. And, as such—just as he, himself, is sovereign—so are his followers. And it is not Jordan Peterson who is the one responsible for anything and everything that his untold millions of fans or supporters say or do.*

Furthermore, if Jordan Peterson were to tell his followers precisely how to act, he would cease to be the public figure that he is now. He, then, would become what some of his harshest critics accuse him of being: an actual cult leader. But Jordan Peterson’s critics cannot have it both ways; they cannot simultaneously critique him for being a cult leader and blame him for the conduct of his followers. The latter requires the existence of the former. And if his critics prefer him not to be a cult leader, then they must acknowledge the individual agency of his supporters and not imply that he ought to be held liable for his supporters’ deeds and words.

Another important dimension is that Jordan Peterson, as a personal and public figure, escapes easy characterization. If he were only an academic, it would be natural for him to continue to teach, research, and write. But he is not just that. If Jordan Peterson were just a full-time clinical psychologist, he would be spending his time working with his clients and patients. If he were only a public speaker, he would be speaking and giving lectures day in and day out. But he is all of those things at once, so it’s little wonder it would prove exhausting to wear so many hats.

Perhaps it is time to take Jordan Peterson as he is. He is not a cult leader and is not in charge of what his supporters and followers say or do. He is not a prophet, asking his flock to do what he prescribes. He thinks, and he explains. He examines, and he makes excellent practical points. But most important of all, he makes mistakes, which to me, is the most valuable quality in Jordan Peterson. He is a public figure who lives, thinks, and practices life, like the rest of us do—sometimes wrong and sometimes right. And this is his true appeal; he is not a celebrity with a carefully managed image constantly updated and modified by some public relations firm. He is open and honest about all of his achievements and shortcomings. Look no further than his remarkable openness about his struggles with depression.

Jordan Peterson’s most essential lesson, after all, is personal responsibility. So for all of those who continue to maintain that Jordan Peterson is problematic because of something one of his followers somewhere did, keep in mind that—above all else—Jordan Peterson is a proponent of individuals taking responsibility for their own lives. And, a corollary of that is the expectation that it is they—rather than he—who is responsible for what they do or fail to do.

And besides, as we know all too well, there are a thousand possible interpretations of anything anyone says, and Jordan Peterson’s words might be interpreted in ways that he might never even imagine. As thirteenth-century Persian poet Rumi famously wrote: “Each interprets my notes in harmony with his own feelings.”.

* I differentiate between “fans” and “supporters.” Supporters, in my view, have chosen to adopt many of Peterson’s positions after weighing his statements against a set of principles or values they hold and then deciding that there is considerable overlap. Fans, on the other hand, find themselves resonating with Peterson’s words at a purely emotional level.

Kambiz Tavana is an Iranian-American journalist and writer.

11 thoughts on “Jordan Peterson, at His Core, Teaches Personal Responsibility

  1. Perhaps it is time to take Jordan Peterson as he is. He is not a cult leader and is not in charge of what his supporters and followers say or do. He is not a prophet, asking his flock to do what he prescribes. He thinks, and he explains. He examines, and he makes excellent practical points. But most important of all, he makes mistakes, which to me, is the most valuable quality in Jordan Peterson.
    I could not agree more…

  2. Peterson became relevant to many people because he focused on the “simple”, on everyday matters, on personal responsibility (as the text says) and even more complex issues that affect everyone. At a time when the mainstream media and movements are discussing the “sex of angels” and deconstructions that are not attractive to most, he deals with topics of interest to the “common people”. Peterson’s demonization exists not because he is bad, but because he is an important voice for many who are far from progressive movements, that is, people who do not want to live on insane theories. Demonization is caused by pure prejudice, that’s what I think.

    Of course, there may be poor spiritually minded people who may misunderstand their words, but in my view, despite not following Peterson and from what I have seen so far, there is nothing to “incriminate” him. One can agree and disagree with his various positions, but there is nothing criminal in my view!

  3. This article gives Peterson way too much of a pass.
    Of course, anything but a true cult leader – with disciples fully under his/her complete control – is responsible for what his followers do. But simply noting that Peterson doesn’t exercise that extreme level of control over his “followers,” and then suggesting that lacking that absolute control, he has no responsibility for the actions of anyone he may influenced tries to leap an inexuseably large gap. Just two paragraphs into this trope, you maintain that “countless people all over the world who have found such comfort and inspiration in his work” and that we should empathize with him as he seeks to cope with “countless people hanging on his every word.” Your very own description of Peterson edges quite close to cult-leaderish.

    You are truly hard pressed – ESPECIALLY under the tutelage of Peterson – to maintain that “Jordan Peterson himself does not know precisely what he wants, let alone what to tell the countless people all over the world who have found such comfort and inspiration in his work.” This is a man who has made it is work, over the last several years, to write a book about, and travel the globe, to do almost nothing but telling people what they ought to want, and what they need to do, to achieve it.

    Peterson may well never have expected to achieve such a massive following. But he certainly sought it. It is plainly obvious that you don’t write books and go on global speaking tours in an attempt to seeking anonymity. As we all plainly understand, it is the opposite. After obtaining the popularity he obviously pursued, he then went on to cater to it, nuture it and to draw finance from it. As a person who has voluntarily – and quite emphatically – positioned himself as qualified to dispense direct advice on how people should handle their lives and participate in society and the world, I have very little empathy for him, as he now seeks to “cope with those countless people hanging on his every word.”
    Perhaps the avalanche of media criticism has taken its toll on Peterson. In many respects, I would hope so. His overly-self-assured demeanor (replete with requisite nods to the occasional uncertainty on some big questions) all but invited people to take issue with not only what he had to say, but how he said it, as well.
    Of course much criticism of Peterson has focused on the conduct of his supporters and fans. We routinely hold leaders responsible for the acts of their supporters, as is often reasonable. Trade organizations are tasked with supporting the practices of their members. Companies obtain reputation, are characterized by and can even get sued for, the acts of “self-determined” employees. States and Police departments are held responsible for the actions of their individual, independent-minded employees. The Catholic Church has rightly been branded with the scourge of their “individual” preists. Charles Manson never killed anyone himself, yet, he died in prison. (I know, I know: “But HE was a true “cult leader!” – the point still applies….).
    This assertion just leaves me scratching my head: “Furthermore, if Jordan Peterson were to tell his followers precisely how to act, he would cease to be the public figure that he is now.”

    Um, isn’t that exactly what is and is known for? He gained his greatest notoriety for his book entitled “12 Rules for Life.” in which he, not surprisingly, dispenses direct instructions on how people should organize their lives. Again, he may not meet your particular criteria for a true “cult leader,” but he is clearly a very influential public figure – a role that he sought.

    Similarly, you inexplicably suggest that “Peterson’s critics can’t have it both ways; simultaneously critiquing him for being a cult leader and blaming him for the conduct of his followers.” Again, this EXACTLY what they are claiming. Far from mutually exclusive, those criticisms go hand-in-hand. He IS a person who wants to, tries to, and DOES

    1. I dont’ really see Peterson as telling people what to do. He writes a book, speaks about and makes suggestions on how to have a better life. Much of what he says is common sense. He does have established research to back what he states. He is not someone who states what he says are facts and then bases it off of personal experience.

      1. With all due respect, noting that “Peterson doesn’t literally tell people what to do,” but merely “makes suggestions on how to have a better life” is at once both something that I already addressed (i.e. he is not a true cult leader, with absolute control over a set of disciples) but also a bit of a silly semantic argument.

        Far more than you or I, or any average person – as we DON’T write books or go on speaking tours or television programs – he DOES TRY to “tell people what to do” (to have a better life, in his estimation). That’s why he’s ACTIVELY doing these things. He’s not just politely waiting for folks to ask his advice, and then merely making suggestions.

        And yes, much of what he says would appear to be common sense – at least for the right people (I don’t think there is a one-size-fits-all answer to what every individual needs to do, in order to to live a better life).

        However, the call to his “established research to back up what he states” is also quite specious. I like the guy and generally agree with him but, I see him VERY selectively citing “clinical research” and “studies” that support his hypotheses, while at the same time ignoring other plain facts that do not.

        Not that I agree entirely with this article either, https://carleton.ca/align/2018/jordan-peterson-uses-pseudoscience-to-support-his-intellectually-feeble-ideas/

        but it DOES make some valid points about how Peterson is very fast-and-loose with his references to “scientific research” that supports or proves a lot of what he says. He’s just not nearly as intellectually honest OR backed by “science” as many of his followers believe him to be.

        The point of my response to the article was that, while he certainly does carry a message of self-determination and tried to help some wayward souls find their way, that’s not at all the totality of his message or the impact of his delivery of it, through various media outlets. Peterson actively courted a following, which made him millions and millions of dollars, and for which, he bears some responsibility.

        Finally, I am not all surprised, but still galled, at the fact that a guy who made over a million dollars a year telling – or even merely “suggesting,” if you will – people how they should live their lives, has been reduced to seeking treatment in Russia for his addictions, which treatments have apparently resulted in serious, and perhaps irreversible brain damage.

  4. Dr. Peterson speaks the truth even it is unpopular and inconvenient, this has irked the radical leftists who do not like their narrative challenged. Finally, a fearless warrior unafraid of the politically correct regressive mobs, someone who dares to question – when has the left gone too far?

  5. I agree with Tony in that Peterson is not a cult leader but what he says and how he says it matter a great deal. II recall Dr. Gabor Mate who has reasons to believe that Peterson has unresolved pent up negative feelings, most likely, going as far back as childhood. I believe Gabor’s observation is true because I do sense anger in Peterson’s voice and demeanor. For instance, he rails against post-modernism as if it was the devil incarnate and as if it was created intentionally to indoctrinate the masses for some nefarious end. It never occurs to him that all forms of isms are bound to be misunderstood and of all people Peterson is just as culpable on this and in his misunderstandings of Marxism. Aside from all that, and while I agree on many things Peterson addresses, I’m at a loss that he took so hard his wife’s illness. so much so, that he had to take psychotropic drugs to cope. But he’s a highly trained psychiatrist who, you would think, has gained the emotional strength needed to face the complexes of life and death. While it’s understandable that a loved one may die on us through illness, accident, or what have you, facing up to it with courage is precisely what Peterson has been preaching to his admirers in many other aspects in life. Of all things, why should death be excluded? Mind you, I’m not disappointed by Peterson’s present state of mind. I’m just saddened by it and I hope he makes a full recovery. I also hope that his traumatic experience may give him insight into his own unresolved feelings and the need to address them with the attention they deserve. I also hope some day he will have a chat with either Gabor or Dr. Esther Perel whom I believe can help Peterson resolve his emotional past that I believe makes its presence felt in all that he says and does.

  6. Capitalizing on a man’s illness, like jackals circling a wounded calf. You Mus feel so proud of yourself.

  7. I have personally benefited from Jordan Peterson’s insightful peek into the human animal. I find that he often says what I am thinking/believing. What people do with his or anyone else’s words or thoughts is their own perception of the world. To blame someone else for ‘my’ actions reeks of immaturity and victim mentality.

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