Jordan Peterson's initial fixation was the problem of evil, sparked by learning about Nazi Germany and the Soviet gulag at age 13. He realized that understanding this problem required confronting one's own capacity for darkness, not just observing it externally. This personal reckoning was crucial for him to grasp the reality of malevolence.
The Individual as the Locus of Evil
Peterson asserts that the fundamental issue of malevolence is an individual one, exemplified by the Auschwitz guard who was a 'normal person who enjoys his work.' He argues that the pathway to totalitarian states is paved with deception and lies, where individuals lie to themselves and others, eroding the moral fabric of society.
Maternal Sacrifice and 'Snake Handlers'
Effective parenting involves encouraging children to become 'snake handlers'—adventurous, alert, and courageous—rather than shielding them from all harm. This fosters a profound form of security through resilience. A mother's true sacrifice is not to keep her children dependent but to equip them to face the world, embodying a maternal strength that prioritizes their growth over their comfort.
Jordan Peterson posits that 'God is whatever you put first.' He argues that prioritizing something is a fundamental necessity for perception and action, as one must focus attention to navigate the world. This prioritization, whether conscious or unconscious, structures one's reality and value system. The aim or highest value can be considered one's God.
Dostoevsky's Fiction as Profound Truth
Peterson highlights the works of Dostoevsky as examples of fiction that are 'hyper-real' and deeply true. He contends that while the specific events in novels like 'Crime and Punishment' may not have happened literally, the stories reveal profound truths about human psychology, relationships, and the underlying dynamics of existence, capable of changing one's worldview.
Peterson: Work as Sacrifice
Human work is fundamentally a sacrifice of the present for the future, driven by our consciousness of mortality and the need for long-term security and opportunity for ourselves and loved ones. This sacrifice is the essence of delayed gratification and a core aspect of human existence post-paradise.
Life's greatest adventure is found in confronting its troubles head-on. By embracing the full extent of life's difficulties without flinching, one can find meaning and justification for the inherent suffering, transforming misery into a profound adventure. This requires a clear purpose and a willingness to engage with challenges.
Dostoevsky's Moral Atheism
Ivan Karamazov, in Dostoevsky's 'The Brothers Karamazov,' presents a powerful atheistic argument rooted in the problem of evil, specifically the horrific suffering of innocent children. He questions how a benevolent God could permit such atrocities, even if it served a greater cosmic purpose, thereby challenging the moral foundation of faith.
Stephen Fry's Moral Outrage
Stephen Fry, despite being an atheist, exhibits profound moral outrage at the suffering of children, shaking his fist at the sky. This emotional response suggests that even in atheism, there's an unconscious engagement with the concept of God and a relationship with a higher moral order, as anger is typically directed at a perceived agent.
