Jordan Peterson

Jordan Bernt Peterson is a Canadian quack and (perhaps soon-to-be failed) clinical psychologist, a retired"Am now professor emeritus..." by Jordan Peterson (2:58 PM - 3 Oct 2021) Twitter (archived from October 3, 2021). University of Toronto psychology professor, and Ultracrepidarian par excellence.Jordan Peterson University of Toronto. He has falsely claimed to be both an evolutionary biologist and a neuroscientist but he is neither. He has been regarded as a member of the informal Intellectual Dark Web, which has been described as a gateway into the alt-right.The “Intellectual Dark Web,” explained: what Jordan Peterson has in common with the alt-right: A controversial New York Times article describes several popular white intellectuals as marginalized “renegades.” by Henry Farrell (May 10, 2018, 9:10am EDT) Vox.
In 2022, Peterson sued the College of Psychologists of Ontario, which regulates clinical psychologists. The College had attempted to discipline Peterson for failing to speak in a professional manner befitting that of a clinical psychologist, which included not using hate speech in public. The College ordered Peterson to complete a "specified continuing education or remedial program" (SCERP) to maintain his membership in the College and his ability to practice clinical psychology. For this, Peterson had claimed that the College was violating his freedom of expression under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Peterson had also tried to have it both ways, claiming that psychological advice was professional speech but that the speech that the College found offensive and unprofessional was his private speech ("off duty"). A three-judge panel ruled unanimously in 2023 that the College had the right to regulate its profession and require him to take the SCERP to maintain his license. The panel ruled that Peterson still had freedom of expression but that if he wanted to maintain his license, the College had the right to require him to moderate his expression to comport with their regulations so as to maintain his license. The panel also ruled that there was no separation between he psychological advice and his offensive speech, that he was doing both under the argument from authority his time on The Joe Rogan Experience, where he introduced himself as a clinical psychologist. In essence, Peterson lost the case.Peterson v. College of Psychologists of Ontario (August 23, 2023) Superior Court of Justice.
Peterson has authored or coauthored more than 90 peer-reviewed articles on clinical psychology, social psychology, and personality theory. However, Peterson is mostly known for his conservative views on religion, trans issues, and feminism, and for his incel- and MGTOW-heavy audience. Although Peterson frequently makes morally questionable claims and engages in pseudoscience, his statements are notoriously incoherent, ambiguous, and jargon-laden, sometimes rising above vacuousness to the level of deepity, which allows him to handwave criticism as mere misrepresentations of his babbling bullshit.The Intellectual We Deserve: Jordan Peterson’s popularity is the sign of a deeply impoverished political and intellectual landscape by Nathan J. Robinson (14 March 2018) Current Affairs. This is ironic, as he criticises post-modernists for basically doing the same thing.
Peterson has gained something of a following for his how to live your life guidance, which mostly consists of obvious common sense, ideas recycled from the Stoics, and some fairly crummy advice. Despite promoting personal responsibility above all and telling others how to live well, he went on to abandon his very sick wife for a while to go to Russia to do a dangerous experimental medical procedure where he would get over his drug addiction by an induced coma,"Jordan Peterson's year of 'absolute hell': Professor forced to retreat from public life because of addiction" by Joseph Brean, National Post, 2020 February 7 thereby avoiding the discomfort of withdrawal and waking up with the problem that was much more easily solved with less personal work to do. Clearly, this must tick all the boxes in his principles of personal responsibility and "How To Live Your Life To The Fullest", because he hasn't seemed to lose that many fans/readers. This perhaps says something about his fans.
He is, selectively, very passionate about freedom of speech and ignorant of clear violations of freedom of speech, depending on whether it's his friends involved or a "regressive leftist". He also doesn't like it when people use those precious treasured free speech powers to say mean things about him, and he has threatened frivolous defamation lawsuits against some of those people. His own "free speech" platform, Thinkspot, will hide downvoted comments in the name of free speech, and you will have to pay a subscription to get some of that sweet free speech.Social media helps trolls who help themselves by Madeline Fry Schultz (June 13, 2019 07:02 PM ) Washington Examiner.
==Popularity==
As of July 2021, Peterson had over 3.8 million subscribers and 245 million views on YouTube,Jordan B Peterson: About YouTube (archived from July 6, 2021). and 1.9 million followers on Twitter.Dr Jordan B Peterson Twitter (archived from July 1, 2021).
When Peterson's earnings were last public on 21 October 2017, he had 6099 patrons and received $66,636.40 per month ($800k per year). If one assumes that his per-patron donations remained constant, then at his peak (9918 patrons), Peterson would receive an estimated $108k per month ($1.3m per year)., PatreonDr Jordan B Peterson, Graphtreon On 15 January 2019, Peterson closed his Patreon account to protest of Patreon's ban of Sargon of Akkad,Patreon Account Deletion by Jordan B Peterson (Jan 15, 2019) YouTube. who had violated Patreon's guidelines against hate speech by insulting his alt-right critics with "faggot" and "nigger" in a bizarre attempt to turn the tables on themCarl Benjamin Drops The N-Word While Ranting About The Alt-Right (February 10, 2018) Angry White Men.Hate Speech on Patreon by Jacqueline Hart (Dec 17, 2018) PatreonHQ. and who had been mass-reported for this by right-wingers.Fun fact: Sargon got his Patreon flagged down by right-wing trolls and has admitted that he knows that. He continues to blame "the SJWs" because he has exactly one talking point and without serving the bidding for someone else's narrative he's irrelevant. by Jared Holt (4:20 PM - 16 Dec 2018) Twitter (archived from 29 Dec 2018 05:51:52 UTC).I mentioned it in the first video I did. Fun fact: Patreon isn't controlled by right-wing trolls, they're controlled by left-wing ideologues. Seems odd that you'd leave out the fact that the far left pulled the trigger to give the right-wing trolls precisely what they wanted. by "not sargon" (Sargon of Akkad) (4:00 AM - 20 Dec 2018) Twitter (archived from February 1, 2019). Peterson suggested forming a "free speech" Patreon alternative, possibly taking Bitcoins. Given how other previous "free speech" experiments such as 8chan, PewTube, and Gab turned out, what can possibly go wrong?
On 13 January 2019, Peterson asserted that three million copies of his book 12 Rules for Life12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson (2017) Random House. ISBN 0345816021. had been sold.Q & A 2019 01 January by Jordan B Peterson (Jan 13, 2019) YouTube. If we assume each book sold for its Amazon price of ~$15, and that Peterson was paid a (low) royalty rate of 8%, this implies that Peterson received $3.6 million for 12 Rules for Life.
Peterson was not active in public life for a while in the late 2010s as he was recovering from benzodiazepine addiction. Jordan Peterson's year of 'absolute hell': Professor forced to retreat from public life because of addiction: The controversial author and professor is recovering from addiction to tranquilizers and near-death in Russia, his family says by Joseph Brean (Feb 07, 2020) National Post. He returned to the public eye in October of 2020, yet his public profile has declined and today he can mainly be seen hashing out right-wing talking points on Twitter.Return Home. by Jordan B Peterson (Oct 19, 2020) YouTube.Jordan Peterson’s Downfall Is How Boring He’s Become, The Daily Beast, April 9, 2023
He got banned from Twitter on July 1st 2022 for deadnaming Elliot Page,Elliot Page Pride Tweet Gets Jordan Peterson Suspended From Twitter, Newsweek. and refused to remove the offending tweet for a while, saying he would "rather die".Jordan Peterson 'Would Rather Die' Than Delete Elliot Page Tweet, Newsweek. He released an utterly unhinged rant on his YouTube channel addressing the ban, which was met with widespread mockery and led to the genesis of the "Up yours, woke moralists!" meme.Article: Twitter Ban by Jordan B. Peterson (Jul 1, 2022) Later, he removed the tweet to get the suspension lifted but reposted it as a screenshot in a petty act of defiance.Jordan Peterson returns to Twitter by pathetically deadnaming Elliot Page again by Josh Milton (Aug 27, 2022) Pink News Around the same time, he started working with Ben Shapiro's outlet, The Daily Wire.Daily Wire signs Jordan Peterson to podcast deal by Ariel Zilber (Jun 30, 2022) New York Post The Twitter ban didn't last long; he was reinstated by Elon Musk along with a shitload of other fascists in November 2022 after Musk bought the company.Elon Musk begins reinstating banned Twitter accounts, starting with Jordan Peterson and the Babylon Bee: The decision comes after widespread resignations among the platform’s critical engineering staff. by Russell Brandom (Nov 18, 2022, 11:17 AM PST) The Verge.
==Trans issues and rise to prominence==
===Bill C-16===
Peterson rose to popularity mainly due to his public opposition to the Canadian government's Bill C-16,Bill C-16 (June 19, 2017) Parliament of Canada. which added gender expression and gender identity to the list of protected groups in the Canadian Human Rights Act.2017/05/17: Senate hearing on Bill C16 by Jordan B Peterson (May 18, 2017) YouTube.Are Jordan Peterson’s Claims About Bill C-16 Correct? The U of T professor has made claims about going to prison for his beliefs and criminalizing free speech. Here's what the legislation says. by Lisa Cumming (December 19, 2016 at 5:30 pm) Torontoist. Peterson opposed the bill because he claims it mandates compelled speech and thus violates freedom of speech.University of Toronto professor defends right to use gender-specific pronouns by Simona Chiose (November 19, 2016) The Globe and Mail. René J. Basque, head of the Canadian Bar Association, disagrees with this interpretation of the bill.RE: Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (gender identity or expression) by René J. Basque (May 10, 2017) The Canadian Bar Association.
At the Canadian Senate hearing of Bill C-16, Senator Ratna Omidvar asked Peterson how the bill's proponents could reconcile his objection to the bill and opposing gender-based discrimination. Peterson's response was: 
 
Brenda Cossman, professor of law at the University of Toronto, has said Peterson is "fundamentally mischaracterizing" Bill C-16. Cossman asserted that C-16 is "not about criminalizing pronoun misuse" but instead an extension of Canada's human rights laws to trans status.Bill C-16 – No, its Not about Criminalizing Pronoun Misuse by Victoria Liao (October 17th 2016) Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies. However, according to Cossman the bill might allow for fines if a person does consistently mis-gender someone,Canada's Gender Identity Rights Bill Explained, CBC thus it could effectively be a form of compelled speech. When a video was shown of him refusing to adhere to the law's requirements, the dean of the University of Toronto personally reprimanded him, saying that his pledge not to use preferred pronouns revealed discriminatory intentions and that he was undermining his ability to conduct essential components of his job as a faculty member.Jordan Peterson's Gospel of Masculinity by Kelefa Sanneh (March 5, 2018) The New Yorker.
Peterson (allegedly) used the preferred pronouns of his students; he just does not believe he should be required to. Regardless, he was later banned from Twitter for misgendering and deadnaming Elliot Page. Curiously, however, he was not prosecuted for it.
===Federal funding denial===
In April 2017, Peterson's grant application for $399,625 over five years for his three graduate students' salary and tuition, payments for research subjects, and travel expenses was rejected by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Peterson alleged that this denial is in retaliation for his statements against Bill C-16, "I think that [the controversy about Bill C-16] provided someone with a convenient opportunity to make their displeasure with what I'm doing known." In 2012, when Peterson's grant was approved for the last time by SSHRC, it was for the largest amount ever awarded to a psychologist.'An opportunity to make their displeasure known': Pronoun professor denied government grant: The five-year, $399,625 grant was for a study that the Research Council had already approved and was earmarked to pay his student assistants by Christie Blatchford (April 3, 2017) National Post. In response, Ezra Levant spearheaded an Indiegogo campaign to raise $73,325, the first year's worth of funding, within 30 days. The campaign reached its goal in one day.Jordan Peterson’s federal funding denied, Rebel Media picks up the tab: Controversial psychology professor has funding proposal rejected for first time by Sophia Savva (May 1, 2017) The Varsity.
===Reactionary fans===
Given that his objections to C-16 resonate with many people, including transphobic individuals, it is unsurprising that a lot of Peterson's fans are reactionaries. Such fans like and support Peterson for his opposition stance to the bill, but also due to his views on the psychological differences between men and womenJordan Peterson Destroys Gender Denying Idealogue (May 21, 2015) YouTube. (which the sexist reactionaries all love), sympathetic views towards conservative values,2017/06/15: 12 principles for a 21st century conservatism by Jordan B Peterson ((Jun 22, 2017) YouTube. being against "postmodernist neo-Marxism"Postmodernism and Cultural Marxism | Jordan B Peterson (Jul 6, 2017) YouTube.How to shut up a marxist (Jordan Peterson speech) (Jul 10, 2017) YouTube. and for defending Christianity.Jordan Peterson - I Act As If God Exists (May 10, 2017) YouTube.Why Jordan Peterson Still Believes In God (Dec 30, 2016) YouTube (archived from March 18, 2017).Is Jordan Peterson A Christian? (Aug 7, 2017) YouTube (archived from August 8, 2017). On more than one occasion, Peterson has retweeted fans of his who were discovered to be alt-right or neo-Nazis.This is a good twitter stream analyzing what's happening around the channel 4 interview by Jordan B Peterson (2:26 AM - 21 Jan 2018) Twitter (archived from 13 Jul 2019 15:20:14 UTC).There is beauty in Europe enough to stop your heart… by Jordan B Peterson (06:44 - 13. Dec. 2017) Twitter (archived from December 14, 2017).How hard is it to not retweet Nazis? by Tabatha Southey (6:43 PM - 13 Dec 2017) '"Twitter (archived from July 13, 2019). Peterson has lectured extensively, often speaking to conservatives, on the need to reject both far left and far right views and in particular on the need to dismantle political tribalism,Jordan Peterson Dismantles Political Tribalism in 5 minutes (Feb 11, 2017) YouTube (archived from Juuly 6, 2017). on the problems with the alt-right,Jordan Peterson: The problem with the Alt-Right (Mar 17, 2017) YouTube (archived from March 18, 2017). and on his claim that liberals and conservatives need each other.Liberals & Conservatives NEED each other - Jordan Peterson (Dec 23, 2016) YouTube. Peterson once called MGTOWs "pathetic weasels",Jordan Peterson's opinion on MGTOW (Apr 2, 2017) YouTube. though he later apologized.Jordan Peterson - I Regret Calling MGTOW Pathetic Weasels (May 11, 2017) YouTube.
Peterson's comments and the reaction to them (which often labelled Peterson transphobic and sought his deplatforming) sparked a controversy that earned him significant media coverage. Glasgow students call for 'transphobic' Jordan Peterson, Milo Yiannopoulos be removed from rector ballot: Toronto professor known for his stand against gender neutral pronouns objects to be being lumped in with the alt-right provocateur by Victor Ferreira (March 10, 2017) National Post. Additionally, Peterson is a self-described anti-Social Justice Warrior. In an interview with Joe Rogan, he congratulated himself for "monetizing SJW's", and brags that the more he is attacked by them, the more money he is given through Patreon.Joe Rogan - Jordan Peterson on Monetizing SJW's (Jan 30, 2018) YouTube.
His popularity with the right has led him to be interviewed by a whole slew of notable anti-leftists, including Tara McCarthy,#ThrowbackThursday: Prof. Jordan Peterson on Western Civilization and the Alt Right (2017-04-27) Internet Archive. Sargon of Akkad,Interviewing Dr Jordan Peterson by Sargon of Akkad Live (Apr 10, 2017) YouTube (archived from April 11, 2017). Stefan Molyneux,The Architecture of Belief | Jordan Peterson and Stefan (Feb 12, 2017) YouTube (archived from May 25, 2017). Dave Rubin,Free Speech, Psychology, Gender Pronouns | Jordan Peterson | POLITICS | Rubin Report (May 5, 2017) YouTube. and Theryn Meyer.Dr. Jordan Peterson Chats with Theryn Meyer (Nov 9, 2016) YouTube (archived from March 20, 2018). Peterson has also appeared on the H3 Podcast.H3 Podcast #37 - Jordan Peterson (Nov 3, 2017) YouTube (archived from December 31, 2017). Richard Spencer has said that he respects Peterson's work, and that they "share a lot of common ground and philosophical starting points."I respect your work. And we share a lot of common ground and philosophical starting points. I invite you to engage with me in a respectful debate or public conversation, whenever and wherever you'd like. by Richard Spencer (9:37 PM - 28 Nov 2017) Twitter (archived from July 13, 2019). Spencer was eventually disappointed by Peterson.I thought Jordan Peterson was a revelation when he came on the scene and, from a conservative perspective, talked about psychology and myth. by Richard Spencer (12:36 PM - 19 Feb 2018) Twitter (archived from July 13, 2019).
===Lindsay Shepherd censure===
In November 2017, a brief clip featuring Peterson's views on gender-neutral pronouns during a classroom debate was used by Wilfrid Laurier University graduate student and teaching assistant Lindsay Shepherd in a seminar. This led her to be censured by the university for staying neutral and not "denouncing" Peterson's ideas, acting "transphobic" and creating a "toxic climate", while Peterson himself was compared to Hitler.Jordan Peterson Is Causing Problems at Another University Now: Wilfrid Laurier is the latest Canadian school with a freedom of speech controversy. by Drew Brown (November 20, 2017, 4:09pm) Vice (archived from August 11, 2020).Odious censuring of grad student worsened by Hitler reference by Mark Bonokoski (November 15, 2017) Toronto Sun. The university's actions were heavily criticized.Why are we killing critical thinking on campus? editorial (November 16, 2017) The Globe and Mail (archived from January 8, 2018).Laurier's apology and a petition won't fix the cancer on campus: The crisis of free speech and academic freedom on campuses has been growing for years. The Laurier incident is one small part of it editorial (November 24, 2017; 4:56 PM EST) National Post. In light of this, the professor and administration both apologized for their actions.
==Social conservatism==
Peterson holds socially conservative views on sex, gender, and marriage. Peterson usually justifies these views by claiming that he's opposing Cultural Marxists, that they're essential to a shared Western narrative, or that he's just really worried about it, ok?
===Women in the workplace===
Peterson thinks the primary desire of professional women is to be mothers by age 30. Peterson has stated that "there is something that isn't quite right in the way they are constituted or looking at the world" regarding women who don't make having children their primary desire by age 30Jordan Peterson - Women in High Paying Jobs (Apr 6, 2017) YouTube. and that women who don't have children are "isolated" and "miserable" in the latter half of their lives.
Given his belief that women should be mothers, it makes sense that Peterson believes that current "gender antipathy" may be due to the birth control pill and is unable to distinguish correlation from causation:The Perils of A University Education by Jason Tucker (December 1, 2016) C2C Journal. "We’re teaching university students lies, and pandering to them, and I see that as counterproductive."
It'll be interesting to see what Peterson thinks of women who have PCOS (testosterone and estrogen imbalance) and have to be on the pill.
Of course, Peterson may not see a need for birth control pills because he appears to believe that men and women cannot work together. For example, in an interview with Vice News, Peterson JAQed off about whether men and women can work together in the workplace.Jordan Peterson Is Canada's Most Infamous Intellectual | VICE News Full Interview (HBO) (Feb 7, 2018) YouTube. Time=5 minutes, 51 seconds. and asserted that women who don't want to be sexually harassed but wear makeup are "hypocritical". Jordan Peterson Is Canada's Most Infamous Intellectual | VICE News Full Interview (HBO) (Feb 7, 2018) YouTube. Time=7 minutes, 13 seconds.
===Marriage and divorce===
Peterson likes strong marriages. In fact, Peterson describes marriage's benefits primarily in terms of mutual co-improvement — working on each other's flaws because neither partner can escape. This leads to worrying implications in terms of divorce:Peterson - Why Shackle Yourself in Marriage? (Oct 24, 2017) YouTube.
Of course, modern Western societies miraculously maintain the highest recorded divorce rates and lowest recorded marriage rates144 years of marriage and divorce in the United States, in one chart by Ana Swanson (June 23, 2015) Washington Post. at the same time as the lowest recorded crime rates5 facts about crime in the U.S. (November 20, 2020) Pew Research Center. and highest recorded education rates.For the First Time, 90 Percent Completed High School or More by Erik Schmidt (July 31, 2018) United States Census Bureau. Truly, we can only learn to be our best selves when "shackled" to someone for life.
===Consent===
Unsurprisingly, given his views on marriage, Peterson has an antiquated view on consent within (and without) marriages. Discussing the 2017 #MeToo wave of sexual assault allegations, Peterson offered the following insights:
Peterson doesn't quite justify marital rape. Quite. And for those outside of marriage, Peterson maintains "we have no idea" how to reduce rapes:
It's worth noting that Peterson has been accused of sexual assault three (!) times, by his own admission:Jordan Peterson Responds to VICE News, CBC & Mainstream Media at UBC (Feb 16, 2018) YouTube.Transcript of last segment of Peterson interview by Ohana (Feb 16, 2018) Medium.
We're certainly glad that Peterson wasn't entertained by his sexual assault allegations.
===Violence and women===
Peterson has claimed that men can't control "crazy women" because using physical violence against women is socially unacceptable:Jordan Peterson: "I don't think that men can control crazy women": U of T psychology prof says he's "defenceless" against "female insanity" by Tom Yun (October 8, 2017) The Varsity.Modern Times: Camille Paglia & Jordan B Peterson (Oct 2, 2017) YouTube.
Indeed, the subject of violence is disturbingly central to his worldview. He goes so far as to view those who wouldn't resort to violence with utter contempt:Why is there so much emphasis on being evil to be a good person? This sounds like something Neo-Nazis would say to each other. r/JordanPeterson (April 27, 2021) Reddit.
He also believes that feminists don't speak out against human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia due to an "unconscious wish for brutal male domination".Jordan Peterson: The Deep Rooted Problems of the "Religion of Peace" (Aug 30, 2017) YouTube. Apparently, feminists in the West so urgently desire male domination that they have made violence against women socially unacceptable. Right. Also, he doesn't seem to realize that third-wave feminism is a thing, and feminists have spoken very much against human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia by creating awareness of such things in the first place. He can easily do a Google search of feminists that work in Saudi Arabia and discover that some were arrested for their jobs.Beaumont, P. (May 21, 2018). Further arrests of Saudi women's rights activists in escalating crackdown. The Guardian. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
===Systemic barrier denier===
Peterson also believes that women aren't systemically held back. He states that it's wrong to ask why women are underrepresented in the C-suite (top corporate titles: CEO, CFO, etc.) compared to asking why men dominate that field. According to him, men dominate the field, despite more women graduating from university, because he thinks men, in general, are more obsessed with their career and are willing to work harder, all according to stereotype."7 Questions" by Belinda Luscombe (March 19, 2018) Time 191(11):76. From his interview with Cathy Newman, however, his claim is based upon the thought that men seem to have more capacity and willingness to enter an extremely competitive field, at men's partial expense. At the same time, women are more involved in seeking a higher quality of life than devoting their life to such a draining career. This argument is rather simplistic, does not contradict the factor of entrenched gender roles, and propagates stereotypes of men and women:Jordan Peterson Talks Gun Control, Angry Men and Why So Few Women Lead Companies by Belinda Luscombe (March 7, 2018 12:14 PM EST) Time.
===Heroine hater===
Peterson notoriously criticized the Disney animated film Frozen as being "reprehensible propaganda" for challenging traditional gender roles, being absolutely disgusted at the idea that a woman does not require men to succeed.Frozen movie: Reprehensible propaganda (Aug 19, 2017) YouTube. In 2017, he wrote:I am Dr Jordan B Peterson, U of T Professor, clinical psychologist, author of Maps of Meaning and creator of The SelfAuthoring Suite. Ask me anything! (2017) Reddit.
An academic review of his first book, Maps of Meaning, noted Peterson's uncritical interpretation of a Jungian and hence pseudopsychological (and explicitly patriarchal) mythological framework, which portrays men through the archetypes like "the Hero" or the "Great Father" but portrays women as passive damsels in distress or through the archetype of the "Great and Terrible Mother". As the book doesn't speak of heroines or the archetype of the "Terrible Father", this was seen as a double standard. Professor Maxine Sheets-Johnstone writes:The Psychology Of What Is And What Should Be: An Experiential and Moral Psychology of the Known and the Unknown: Review of Peterson on Meaning-Belief by Maxine Sheets-Johnstone (2000) Psycoloquy: 11(124):2.
===Porn and sex ed opponent===
Peterson has spoken out against pornography, labelling it an "untrammeled social evil" even though by his own admission its introduction has been linked with a decrease in violent rape,Jordan Peterson on Pornography: "An untrammeled social evil" (Sep 12, 2017) YouTube. and suggested that people should not masturbate to pornography because it is not a "noble pursuit".
Peterson opposed a proposed sex education program in Ontario, claiming that a social constructionist view of gender identity was being "foisted on children"Dr. Jordan Peterson on Wynne's Sex-Ed with Tanya Granic Allen and Queenie Yu (Feb 16, 2018) YouTube. Time=1 minute, 45 seconds. and that it is "a form of indoctrination"Dr. Jordan Peterson on Wynne's Sex-Ed with Tanya Granic Allen and Queenie Yu (Feb 16, 2018) YouTube. Time=4 minutes, 2 seconds. being pushed by radical leftists.
Additionally, Peterson has criticized casual sex, claiming that it "is simply not commensurate with the demands of an advanced civilization".2016/12/31: A New Years Letter to the World by Jordan B Peterson (2016/12/31) YouTube. He has even JAQed off about whether casual sex could "necessitate state tyranny", claiming that "The missing responsibility has to be enforced somehow".Could "casual" sex necessitate state tyranny? The missing responsibility has to be enforced somehow... by Jordan B Peterson (8:51 AM - 17 Dec 2016) Twitter (archived from February 21, 2018). There's also this lovely broadside against a writer for The Atlantic:
===Gay marriage opponent===
Peterson has made statements on gay marriage that offer conditional support instead of fully welcoming it. He responded to a question stating that he would be against legalizing gay marriage if it was backed by "cultural Marxists" and that he's concerned about their "assault on traditional modes of being." He also states, "If the marital vows are taken seriously… it's a means whereby gay people could be integrated more thoroughly into standard society and that's probably a good thing." Finally, he states, "Those are my views. I know they're confused… because I'm in favor of extending the bounds of traditional relationships to people who wouldn't be involved in a traditional longer-term relationship but I'm concerned about the undermining of traditional modes of being…"Jordan Peterson - Gay Marriage (Oct 4, 2017) YouTube.
However, either he, or his wife have supported effort to slow the progress of marriage equality in Canada:
The actual intent of the bill seems to have been to make adoption easier for same-sex couples.
In a Q & A in 2017, Peterson struggled to give a coherent answer as to whether or not he supported gay marriage, claiming that "the cultural Marxists support it", so therefore it isn't a good thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jef2C4T1_A In 2023, Peterson later said that the gay community was "a hell of a lot better off when they were oppressed by the heterosexual monogamists than when they're allied with the trans activists"https://www.mediamatters.org/daily-wire/jordan-peterson-i-think-gay-community-was-hell-lot-better-when-they-were-oppressed
===Ignoring real threats to academic freedom===
While Peterson claims to be inspired by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's political opposition to authoritarianism and refers to his own stance against enforced pronoun use as based on Solzhenitsyn's positions on the importance of students and universities in safeguarding freedom,Dr. Jordan Peterson speaks at UofT Rally for Free Speech (Oct 11, 2016) YouTube. he doesn't seem to be opposed to any contemporary threats to academic freedom of speech outside of trans rights.
As well as the frivolous lawsuits he threatened against a few critics, another example of Peterson mainly using free speech for self-interest while lacking any knowledge of (or doesn't care for if the subjects are things he doesn't like) contemporary political events was especially on display when, while on a book tour in Hungary, Peterson met with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán who had already carried out an extended anti-semitic campaign to diminish Hungary's role in the Holocaust and demonize Jewish groups opposed to his authoritarianism,Viktor Orbán’s anti-Semitism problem: Trump’s guest at the White House is no friend to the Jews. by William Echikson (May 13, 2019 4:00 pm) Politico. censoring any gender studies in Hungarian UniversitiesHungary’s PM bans gender study at colleges saying ‘people are born either male or female’ by Lauren Kent & Samantha Tapfumaneyi (9:22 AM EDT, Fri October 19, 2018) CNN. as well as actually shutting down a University perceived to be critical of his policies using anti-semitic tropes and explicit Soros-themed conspiracies.'Dark day for freedom': Soros-affiliated university quits Hungary: Central European University is first major university to be pushed out of an EU country by Shaun Walker (3 Dec 2018 09.50 EST) The Guardian. While Peterson in the past appeared to have called Orbán an "authoritarian" and "dictator wannabe," the two positively discussed political correctness as a real threat according to Hungarian mediaOrbán Meets Jordan Peterson in Budapest (2019.05.30) Hungary Today. which Peterson never contradicted or clarified when requested.Jordan Peterson’s Meeting With Orbán Was Hypocritical — But in Character by Eric Levitz (June 4, 2019) New York Magazine. Shortly after, while he didn't explicitly praise Orbán in an interview with Magyar Nemzet, Peterson characterized contemporary society as lacking a religious/metaphysical foundation and said that Orbán was attempting to provide that foundation in Hungary. Az értelmes életcél tartja meg az embert katasztrófa idején. Peterson: Kétséges az iszlám és a demokrácia összeegyeztethetősége (2019. június 1. szombat 07:24) Magyar Nemzet. Shortly after that, Orbán shut down the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.Hungarian Academy of Sciences stripped of its research network by Kovács Zoltán (2019.07.02. 11:08) 'Index.
Following Orbán's demonization of immigrants as a means of gaining electoral success, Peterson also took the time to suggest that Islam was incompatible with democracy in the most ignorant way possible.
===Opposition to Public Health Measures===
In January 2022, Peterson prepared for a return to public speaking with two opinion pieces in The National Post, one of the two national dailies in Canada. The first presented his decision to take early retirement and emeritus status from the University of Toronto as the result of persecution, Jordan Peterson: Why I am no longer a tenured professor at the University of Toronto: The appalling ideology of diversity, inclusion and equity is demolishing education and business by Jordan Peterson (Jan 19, 2022) National Post. and the second argued against attempts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic other than offering vaccines to those who want them and blamed the difficulties of life during the pandemic on public health measures rather than on a deadly, disabling disease which spreads rapidly through the air:
In this article, Peterson admired the lack of masks or social restrictions in Tennessee compared to the masks and restrictions in Quebec. He did not observe that people in Tennessee have been about twice as likely to die of COVID as people in Quebec, which is one of the hardest hit provinces in Canada.
===Human rights denier===
The distinction between positive and negative rights is both an academic philosophical debate and a right-Libertarian or randroid talking point against laws or policies which require anyone to do anything for anyone else ("I am not morally obliged to share my bread with a starving person because that would be a positive right, but they are morally obliged not to punch me in the face and take it because that is a negative right").
==Anti-postmodernism==
Peterson does not like postmodernism, judging from the very reasonable number of videos he has produced on the subject.Randomly generated list of articles from Google (In his book, Peterson praises Heidegger, who is sometimes described as the first postmodernist philosopher,The Philosophical Discourse of Modernity by Jürgen Habermas (1985) MIT Press. ISBN 0262581027. which would therefore be ironic, sometimes.) Peterson also constantly abuses and misinterprets ideas by Nietzsche and Jung, both of whom he barely understands - but in typical JP fashion pretends to have some kind of deep understanding of, as well as that they wouldn't completely disagree with his Christianity-ridden worldview.
Peterson believes that postmodernism is a severe threat to academic life. In this regard, he shares company with some generally more reasonable figures like Richard Dawkins, who criticized the influence of postmodernism in academia in 1998,Postmodernism disrobed: Review of Intellectual Impostures by Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont by Richard Dawkins (1998) Nature 394:141-143. and Steven Pinker, who considers it as part of an anti-intellectual pseudoscientific trend, claiming that "the humanities have yet to recover from the disaster of postmodernism, with its defiant obscurantism, dogmatic relativism, and suffocating political correctness."Science Is Not Your EnemyEnglightenment Now by Steven Pinker - Kirkus Review
In contrast, other tends to focus on its obscurity, rather than its omnipresence. For example, Noam Chomsky writes with frustration about the impregnability of the works of the French School of postmodernism:
Peterson maintains that the majority of the social sciences and humanities have been "corrupted" by postmodern ideology and thinks specific, more recent disciplines should never have existed in the first place: 
 	
 	
To combat this alleged corruption, Peterson proposed creating a "postmodern lexicon detector”, which would allow students and parents to scan potential university courses and avoid the ones that are allegedly "ideological." Facing heavy criticism, he has since retracted this idea.Professor Abandons Plan for List of ‘Neo-Marxist Course Content’ by Nick Roll (November 13, 2017) Inside Higher Ed. His means of surveying the entirety of the social sciences and humanities to determine their corruption – including anthropology, archaeology, history, geography, political science, sociology, classics, English, comparative literature, music, visual arts, religious studies, and law – remains unknown.
Peterson has associated postmodernism with the conspiracy theory of Cultural Marxism. He has produced multiple videos on Cultural Marxism, which he views as a threat to western civilization. Peterson supports the political repression of supposed Cultural Marxists – he accused professors at the Ontario Institute for the Studies of Education of being a "fifth column" for supposedly promoting Marxism, and stated that Institute educators "should be put on trial for treason."How Anti-Leftism Has Made Jordan Peterson a Mark for Fascist Propaganda: When academics start complaining about "cultural Marxism," they're entering—wittingly or no—a realm of deep anti-Semitism. by Noah Berlatsky (Mar 2, 2018) Pacific Standard. This is even though Peterson was, by his own admission, a "socialist" in his youth.In 1977 a 14 year old Jordan Peterson was almost elected vice-president of the Alberta NDP by Cosmin Dzsurdzsa (October 28, 2018 4:51 PM) The Post Millennial.
==Imperialism==
Early in his career Peterson emphasized that he was horrified by the atrocities of totalitarian regimes in the 20th century such as Stalin's USSR. He warned that seemingly harmless policies in Canada were on the slippery slope to dictatorship. In 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine with stated goals of ending its existence as a state with an independent policy, Peterson started to repeat Russian talking points on the war such as:
Part of Peterson's argument is that gender ideology may make the West 'degenerate, in a profoundly threatening manner' Jordan Peterson Is Terribly Wrong About Russia, and the West: On the intellectual bankruptcy of moral equivalence by David French (July 15, 2022) The Atlantic. and that:
In other words, resisting Nazi and Soviet imperialism in the past was righteous and justified, but resisting Russian and neofascist imperialism today is wicked and doomed. Just why Ukrainians must not resist Russian armies torturing and murdering them, but Canadians must resist requests to call someone by their preferred name or wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces during a respiratory pandemic, is not explained.
==Pseudoscience==
Peterson presents himself as a defender of science and criticizes poor methodology in fields like sociology. However, Peterson often makes non-scientific speculation and offers unfalsifiable opinions.
===Molecule-reading shamans and other DNA woo===
After reading by Jeremy Narby (a book that hypothesizes that shamans may be able to access information at the molecular level through the ingestion of ayahuasca), Peterson came to believe that the double helix structure of the DNA molecule was being represented in the twin-snake motifs in ancient Egyptian, Chinese2017 Maps of Meaning 8: Neuropsychology of Symbolic Representation by Jordan B Peterson (Mar 13, 2017) YouTube. and Hindu art2017 Personality 22: Conclusion: Psychology and Belief by Jordan B Peterson (Jun 11, 2017) YouTube. as well as in the symbol of the caduceus from ancient Greek mythology (which he mistakenly equated with the rod of Asclepius). Peterson's claims are not accepted by mainstream archaeologists; indeed, Peterson utterly fails to present a method through which humans could possess knowledge about molecular processes (on the other hand, humans can observe real live snakes mating, which would explain the inspiration of these images). When confronted about it, Peterson speculated that people might be able to have mysterious unexplained perceptions under certain conditions. Biblical Series IV: Adam and Eve: Self-Consciousness, Evil, and Death by Jordan B Peterson (Jun 19, 2017) YouTube. Interestingly, the art he specifically references [Fuxi and Nuwa] does not include a double helix at all as the helices are not parallel as required to form a double helix, as well as the structure of DNA. If you want to enjoy the absurdity at length:Jordan Peterson Wrongly Claims Ancient Art Depicts Structure of DNA by emilskeptic (June 25, 2018) Debunking Denialism.
Peterson also stated in a lecture that the theory of evolution's reliance on copying errors to produce mutations is where the theory is "weak".2016 Lecture 03 Maps of Meaning: Part I: The basic story and its transformations by Jordan B Peterson (Feb 4, 2016) YouTube. In the same lecture, he stated that he thinks that "DNA is a very, very complex microcomputer… maybe it's a quantum computer".2016 Lecture 03 Maps of Meaning: Part I: The basic story and its transformations by Jordan B Peterson (Feb 4, 2016) YouTube. This claim is an old creationist canard and is considered by actual biologists to misrepresent how it actually works.The genome is not a computer program by PZ Myetrs (24 February 2008) Pharyngula.
===Quantum woo===
Peterson has also dabbled in quantum mysticism. For example, in a debate with philosopher Peterson displayed both a tenuous grasp of quantum theory (which one might expect from a psychologist) and a willingness to knit buzzwords foreign to his subject into the fabric of an academic presentation (which one should avoid). In particular, Peterson claimed that quantum physics affirms his spiritual view of the world:
Quantum mechanics is only useful for explaining the mechanics of the universe at atomic or subatomic levels. As such, it cannot help Peterson explain anything about their field.
===Misunderstanding myths===
In attempting to co-ordinate various mythologies, using Carl Jung's "archetype" psychological theory into a common narrative, Peterson runs the risk of baseless syncretism, especially as his primary concern is Christianity. For example, when describing Buddhist concepts in Maps of Meaning: the Architecture of Belief,Maps Of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief by Jordan B. Peterson (1999) Routledge. ISBN 0415922224. he describes nirvana as "perfection". He equates it with the Christian idea of Heaven to draw parallels between the two belief systems. Some claim this reflects a common misconception of Buddhist concepts but could be a problem of interpretation and conflicting theology.Nirvana Pure Buddhism (archived from March 4, 2007).Nirvana: A State of Perfection (Buddhist vision of the ultimate Good) by George C. PapademetriouWhat Is Nirvana Encyclopedia of Spiritual Knowledge.
===Global warming===
Peterson retweeted global warming deniers including Anthony Watts,Properly placed NOAA weather stations show no warming over last decade http://wp.me/p7y4l-sSf via @wattsupwiththat By Jordan B Peterson (8:28 AM - 6 Jul 2014) Twitter (archived from February 24, 2018).Good news for penguins: Antarctic sea ice at second highest level in past 34 years (!) by Jordan B Peterson (8:04 PM - 7 Mar 2014) Twitter (archived from 14 Jul 2021 07:25:02 UTC).Despite fervent apocalyptic wishes, intransingent home planet appears to be cooling: by Jordan B Peterson (7:36 PM - 7 Mar 2014) Twitter (archived from 14 Jul 2021 07:20:43 UTC). Bjorn Lomborg,Bjorn Lomborg: Global warming is hardly the world’s biggest problem http://natpo.st/1slajjg via @fullcomment by Jordan B Peterson (6:46 AM - 3 Dec 2014) Twitter (archived from February 24, 2018). Richard Lindzen,Something for the anticapitalist environmentalists to hate by Jordan B Peterson (9:13 PM - 1 Aug 2018) Twitter (archived from 14 Jul 2021 07:31:13 UTC). and the Daily Mail.Too much ice in Antarctica: penguins shivering. http://dailym.ai/1mjAqls via @MailOnline by Jordan B Peterson (8:22 AM - 6 Jul 2014) Twitter (archived ffrom February 24, 2018). Peterson claims that his retweets aren't endorsements, but it is irresponsible for him to share climate change denial links without critical examination or without critical commentary (climate change denial is complete rank pseudoscience), especially when his conservative audience is highly receptive to climate change denial. Even if his retweets aren't necessarily promoting pseudoscience, Peterson's regular tweets downplay global warming, consistent with his retweets. For example, one of his tweets links to a blog called "NoTricksZone" (a reference to the "trick" word in Climategate): "So it turns out that it was scientists who were sensitive to atmospheric CO2 level increases?"So it turns out that it was scientists who were sensitive to atmospheric CO2 level increases? by Jordan B Peterson (3:24 PM - 17 Oct 2017) Twitter (archived from February 24, 2018). On occasion, he supports the "global cooling"Cooling into warming? http://wp.me/pPrQ9-qvU via @wordpressdotcom by Jordan B Peterson (9:23 AM - 6 Jul 2014) Twitter (archived from 14 Jul 2021 07:43:15 UTC). as well as the "carbon-dioxide-is-good-for-plants" talking points. This kind of self-contradicting vagueness that results from his denying that retweets are endorsements yet the regular tweeting's suggesting endorsements is another example of the obtuse manner Peterson presents his views.
===Drugs and the supernatural===
In a conversation with atheist Matt Dillahunty that discussed religion and magic mushrooms, Peterson claimed that one cannot quit smoking without divine help and implied that mystical experiences may point to (but are not direct evidence of) the existence of God. A transcript of the conversation in question is provided:Jordan Peterson vs Matt Dillahunty (May 4, 2018) YouTube.
The study Peterson seemed to be referencing had a sample size of 12 people.Psilocybin-occasioned Mystical Experiences in the Treatment of Tobacco Addiction by Albert Garcia-Romeu et al. (2015) Curr. Drug Abuse Rev. 7(3):157–164. doi:10.2174/1874473708666150107121331. However, it is common when testing dangerous drugs to limit sample size — for example, Vollenweider et al.'s 1998 examination of schizophrenia and psilocybin had just 25 people.Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action by Franz X. Vollenweider et al. (1998) Neuroreport 9(17):3897-902. doi:10.1097/00001756-199812010-00024.
===Meat only diet===
In 2016, Peterson embraced a heavy meat diet mixed with green vegetables.Jordan Peterson is trying to make sense of the world — including his own strange journey by Vinay Menon (March 16, 2018) Toronto Star.Jordan Peterson and his all meat diet (Feb 4, 2018) YouTube. In 2018, he cut out the greens and now only eats beef.Jordan Peterson’s All-Meat Diet Is the Dystopia He Warned Us About by Jill Ettinger (2018) Live Kindly.
Peterson's daughter Mikhaila is a proponent of the pseudoscientific meat only diet, and Peterson has claimed benefits from it. On this diet, they eat only beef, salt and drink water, even omitting medication.The Jordan Peterson All-Meat Diet by James Hamblin (August 28, 2018) The Atlantic.My beef with Jordan Peterson's all-cow diet: The psychologist’s daughter Mikhaila invented the beef diet to ease her health problems. It’s best taken with a pinch of salt by Emer O’Toole (19 Sep 2018 12.15 EDT) The Guardian. Their diet is known as "The Lion diet". Medical experts condemn the diet (as well as stopping medication) as dangerous. It lacks critical nutrients, which could have devastating health effects.There's Something You Should Know About The 100% Meat 'Pure Carnivore Diet' by 
Peter Dockrill (17 September 2018) Science Alert.'Carnivore diet': New social media trend criticised by nutritionists as 'very damaging' by Rachel Hosie (13 August 2018 14:40) The Independent. There are also adverse ecological effects, as harvesting beef requires mammoth resources.
Peterson claims the diet has eliminated the symptoms of "His lifelong depression, anxiety, gastric reflux (and associated snoring), inability to wake up in the mornings, psoriasis, gingivitis, floaters in his right eye, numbness on the sides of his legs, problems with mood regulation." There is no scientific evidence for any of these claims. In 2021, Peterson revealed that he is still unhappy, and that his life's "been stressful beyond comprehension" since publicly revealing his controversial ideas in 2016Anders Anglesey, Jordan Peterson Tells Tucker Carlson His Life 'Has Not Been Happy' Since Speaking Out by Anders Anglesey (5/4/21 at 10:01 AM EDT) Newsweek. — perhaps he should try giving up public speaking?
He also has stated that after adopting the diet, his body is more susceptible to changes. For example, merely deviating by drinking some apple cider "produced an overwhelming sense of impending doom", possibly caused an inflammatory response, and deprived him of sleep for 25 consecutive days. Asked how this is possible, he replied, "I'll tell you how it's possible: You lay in bed frozen in something approximating terror for eight hours. And then you get up."
Poor guy.
When Meaterson was directly asked if he would recommend the diet, he said no despite having fans that contacted him, claiming that following Mikhaila's diet made them lose weight.JRE Clips (July 2, 2018). Joe Rogan - Jordan Peterson's Carnivore Diet Cured His Depression? (Jul 2, 2018) YouTube.
In March 2023, Mikhaila published Peterson's vitamin results after 5 years of allegedly only eating beef, salt and water.Vitamin Results 2023 (5 years on the Lion Diet) Peterson claims he does not take any supplements, but looking at his vitamin results, this cannot be the case. He is either eating other foods secretly or he is taking supplements as his Vitamin C and Vitamin E scores are very good. Cooked beef is very low in vitamin E, so it is impossible that Peterson is not consuming other foods or is supplementing.Vitamin B12, E and D Content of Raw and Cooked Beef It is very likely that he is taking vitamin E supplements. Mikhaila has not published her father's lipid panel results.
===Lobsters and demands for human hierarchy===
In January 2018, during an interview with British journalist Cathy Newman to promote his self-help book, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, Peterson argued that hierarchies are not a social construct, but biological to some extent. To prove his point, Peterson infamously compared humans' tendency to form social hierarchies to lobsters, which display "hierarchical" behavior in that the biggest lobsters fight off other smaller lobsters when it comes to food and mates.A Dominance Order for Shelter in the Spiny Lobster Jasus lalandei (H. Milne-Edwards) by D. R. Fielder (1965) Behavior 24(3/4):236-245.Psychologist Jordan Peterson says lobsters help to explain why human hierarchies exist – do they? by Leonor Gonçalves (January 24, 2018 2.33pm GMT) The Conversation.Why Can't People Hear What Jordan Peterson Is Saying? A British broadcaster doggedly tried to put words into the academic’s mouth. by Conor Friedersdorf (January 22, 2018) The Atlantic. He also asserted that lobsters' nervous systems respond to serotonin in a similar manner as humans, which actually is true to some extent.Serotonin and aggressive motivation in crustaceans, Robert Huber, Kalim Smith, Antonia Delago, Karin Isaksson, and Edward A. Kravitz, PNAS.org Dr. Peterson is not a marine biologist. "No biologist would argue with Peterson that dominance hierarchies have probably existed for a long time, but it's also true that plenty of animals live together without the need to assert dominance over one another."Jordan Peterson needs to reconsider the lobster. by Bailey Steinworth (4 June 2018) The Washington Post.
===Jungian psychology and the origins of his worldview===
Peterson's worldview has been most influenced by psychologist Carl Jung, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and Soviet dissident perhaps most so by Jung since Jung was a pioneer in Peterson's chosen field of psychology. Peterson's inspiration by Jung can be seen in his use of pseudopsychological use of archetypes, myths, collective unconscious, and synchronicity.
Peterson's peculiar claims that he is a Christian (favoring the Eastern Orthodox Church)Am I Christian? Timothy Lott and Jordan B Peterson (Aug 1, 2017) YouTube.Jordan Peterson on Orthodox Christianity: Christ is the Logos!! (July 10, 2020) Helleniscope. and an atheist can be traced back to his being influenced by Solzhenitsyn (an Orthodox Christian) and Nietzsche (an atheist).
====Collective unconscious====
Peterson uses speculative Jungian constructs such as mythical archetypesJordan Peterson: Integrating Your Shadow Self (Jung) (Feb 8, 2017) YouTube. and the "collective unconscious" in his books and lectures. The "collective consciousness" asserts that all humans have an "unconscious mind" which is derived from ancestral memory that is common to all humankind.unconscious mind - Jordan Peterson (Jun 5, 2017) YouTube. The idea of the unconscious mind is one of the oldest ideas in the field of psychology and is still generally in use. Does the Unconscious Really Exist? Some psychologists think the unconscious mind is pure fiction. by David B. Feldman (July 17, 2017) Psychology Today. For example, Jung's view on mythology holds that similarities in myths and narratives across cultures are something that "strongly points to an underlying commonality of structure and purpose" — i.e., that all mythologies come from a shared subconscious experience.
====Synchronicity====
Carl Jung also developed the principle of "synchronicity", which purports that apparently meaningful coincidences may have a deeper psychological interpretation even when there is no apparent causal link. Jung proposed synchronicity has a possible connection with alleged ESP phenomena, and it is often misidentified as paranormal pseudoscience. In Jungian theory, astrology, the I Ching, and paranormal events are all products of synchronicity. It is the causal psychological principle from which they originate.A Glossary of Jungian Terms by Craig Chalquist, Terrapsychology (archived from November 7, 2011).synchronicity The Skeptic's Dictionary.The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience by Michael Shermer (2002) ABC-CLIO. Volume 1. ISBN 1576076539.
As a Jungian, Peterson has repeatedly cited synchronicity to explain coincidences that he notices,Synchronicity? I think so… by Jordan B Peterson (9:52 PM - 12 Feb 2018) Twitter (archived from 15 Jul 2021 07:30:47 UTC).Synchronicity 2: Re 12 Rules for Life, June 2017: by Jordan B Peterson (10:10 AM · Jun 6, 2017) Twitter (archived from 15 Jul 2021 07:33:59 UTC). including the apparent likeness between Pepe the Frog and Kek, the Frog-headed ancient Egyptian deity.More frog synchronicity: https://pepethefrogfaith.wordpress.com (8:02 PM · Nov 6, 2016) Twitter (archived from 15 Jul 2021 07:38:01 UTC).Praise Kek and frog synchronicity - Jordan Peterson (Dec 9, 2017) YouTube. While it's unclear if this was in jest, Peterson has made a few other paranormal claims (see above section ).
====Religion====
Peterson presents himself as a cultural Christian who believes that atheism leads to meaningless societies. For example, in a 2011 debate with various atheists, Peterson argued that Stalin's atheism and alleged pessimistic outlook motivated his mass-murders:Advertising Atheism (Oct 12, 2011) YouTube.
In 2013, Peterson supported presuppositionalism, by using one of the worst syllogisms ever.
In 2013, among his 32 answers to the question, "If you could write a rule book for being a man, what 'man law' would you write," Peterson included the following dictates:
In 2016, Peterson supported a link between atheism and the decline of meaningful lives:
In 2017, Peterson reiterated this idea:
In 2017, Peterson described the "Kingdom of God" as a goal to reach in a poem titled "Wisdom":2017/04/24: Banned lecture at Linfield College: Ethics and Free Speech by Jordan B Peterson (May 2, 2017) YouTube.
In 2017, Peterson described music as filling the spiritual void in atheistic society:
In 2018, Peterson asserted that he was now an unbeliever, but supported Pascal's Wager:
In 2018, Peterson claimed that Nazism and Marxism were "atheist doctrines":
In short: Peterson appears, for the past decade, to be wholly on board with the idea that religion is essential for a functioning society, sometimes called belief in belief. However, his historical evidence is weak at best or just wrong. Given that fascism has usually been religious in nature and that neither fascism nor communism has been preceded by widespread irreligion.
==Defamation lawsuits and threats against critics==
While Peterson calls himself a free speech lover and is hailed by his supporters as a champion of free speech, he has sued several of his critics for pretty lame reasons. Lindsey Shepherd, a teaching assistant at Wilfrid Laurier University, was reprimanded by her professor, Nathan Rambukkana, for showing a video of Peterson in class. Rambukkana stated that presenting a Peterson video in class was inappropriate, comparing it to presenting a speech by Hitler. Unbeknownst to the professor, the TA was recording the conversation and publicly released the audio of the conversation. Peterson subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against Wilfred Laurier University. Despite Rambukkana making his remarks on Peterson in private, Peterson's case stated that Rambukkana should have known audio of his comments would have been posted on YouTube and be used to destroy Peterson's reputation.Jordan Peterson sues Wilfrid Laurier University for defamation over staff remarks during meeting by Peter Goffin (June 21, 2018) Toronto Star.
When Wilfrid Laurier University's statement of defense stated that the media exposure of the case actually helped Peterson, Peterson launched a second lawsuit against the University. Since it's okay when Peterson does it, Peterson then compared Wilfrid Laurier to the Nazis, stating that accusing Peterson of gaining from the lawsuit was like saying that "those who survived the Holocaust should be grateful to their oppressors for teaching them survival skills."Free Speech Hero Jordan Peterson Launches Another Defamation Lawsuit by Mack Lamoureux (September 12, 2018, 9:15am) Vice.
Peterson additionally threatened to file a defamation lawsuit against Kate Manne, who accused him of misogyny in a critical book review of 12 Rules for Life.Exclusive: Jordan Peterson Threatened to Sue a Critic for Calling Him a Misogynist by Irin Carmon (Sept. 20, 2018) The Cut. Following a negative book review of 12 Rules for Life in the New York Times by Pankaj Mishra, Peterson called Mishra an "arrogant racist son of a bitch" and threatened to "slap" Mishra should they ever meet in person.Sorry, Jordan Peterson: rage isn’t a great look for a self-help guru by Nesrine Malik (23 Mar 2018 05.00 EDT) The Guardian. In 2021, in response to a Twitter poster who mocked Peterson's benzos addiction; Peterson called the poster a "sanctimonious, slandering, arrogant, careless little prick", and said the poster would need a benzos should they meet face to face, implying Peterson wanted to become physically violent.@jordanbpeterson . Twitter, Retrieved December 6, 2021.
Peterson additionally has authoritarian, censorious views on higher education- he has called his colleagues at University of Toronto's graduate educational institute a "fifth column" who should be "arrested for treason"- by which he means the alleged teaching of Marxism.Berlatsky, Noah. (March 2, 2018). . Pacific Standard. 
In response to a post by Justin Trudeau calling for Canadians to get a COVID-19 booster shot, Peterson insulted the Prime Minister and said "You'd have to kill me first."@jordanbpeterson . Twitter, Retrieved December 28, 2021. Considering his feeble body and COVID-19 flying around, we don't think the Prime Minister needs to help.
Peterson also suggested that people who refer to him as cisgender should "call me cis to my face and see what happens", a clear implied threat.Shuttleworth, Catherine. (29 June 2023). Jordan Peterson mocked by UFC fighter for threatening people who call him 'cis'. Indy 100.
==Fake quotes==
Even during his rare moments of clarity, Peterson says a lot of dumb shit. This doesn't excuse misquoting him, however. Some common examples follow:
===Rape would be unnecessary===
Twitter account "Jordan Peterson or Islamist Cleric?" made a meme with the quote "If women weren't so choosy, then rape would be unnecessary."If women weren't so choosy, then rape would be unnecessary. by Jordan Peterson or Islamist Cleric? (6:09 PM - 29 Mar 2018) Twitter (archived from June 24, 2018). This misquotes a set of Reddit comments Peterson made in defense of his lecture, Tragedy vs Evil:Jordan Peterson - Evil and Tragedy (42:36) An amazing mix of psychological and philosophical insight into evil, and how individual evil can lead to society-wide disruption. Fascinating. (c. 2015) Reddit.Jordan Peterson - Evil and Tragedy (42:36) An amazing mix of psychological and philosophical insight into evil, and how individual evil can lead to society-wide disruption. Fascinating. (c. 2015) Reddit.
In turn, context from the lecture makes it clear that he's making an argument that women are the sexual selectors (rather than males), and claims that the fact that males rape females more often than the reverse is evidence of this:Tragedy vs Evil by Jordan B Peterson (Mar 30, 2013) YouTube.
==Real quotes==
*"Up yours, woke moralists! We'll see who cancels who" - Jordan Peterson at the end of his meltdown over Twitter banning him for misgendering and deadnaming Elliot Page, and leveling unfounded accusations of criminality toward their surgeon.
*"Thank God For the Legacy Media And Bisexuality Visibility Day! Sincerely, Oppressed Invisible Nonexistent Bisexuals Nowhere" - Jordan Peterson posting about Bisexuality Visibility Day on his Twitter account 
==Non-expert witness status==
Peterson has put himself forward as an expert witness in psychology. Courts aren't so keen on him in child-related cases, chiefly because he is not a child psychologist and has no experience in custody management (if you ever wondered why Peterson is so opposed to law as an area of study, although the counter-argument could be that Peterson worked in a large law firm in Toronto for 15 years during the 2000s into the 2010s.) In Sordi v. Sordi, 2009 CanLII 80104 (ON SC), the whole document is clear and worth reading, but Justice D. Roger Timms, though not a psychologist himself, notes in particular:Sordi v. Sordi, 2009 CanLII 80104 (ON SC)(2009-12-02) CanLII.
In R. v. Pearce (M.L.), 2014 MBCA 70 (CanLII), Peterson failed to sell the court (Justices Barbara M. Hamilton, Marc M. Monnin and Christopher J. Mainella) on his "Unfakeable Big Five" personality test as a forensic tool — "The appellant proposed to call two psychologists (Drs. Jordan B. Peterson and Timothy E. Moore) as expert witnesses to support his false confession defence":R. v. Pearce (M.L.), 2014 MBCA 70 (CanLII) (2014-07-17) CanLII.
==Stopped clock==
In a stopped clock moment, Peterson says in an interview with Dave Rubin that he opposes the death penalty. He says he doesn’t want to give the state the power to kill people, and he mentions the cost and complexity of death penalty cases in the United States.The Death Penalty feat. PragerU (Apr 27, 2020) YouTube.
==Peterson Academy==
On September 27, 2023, Peterson announced the formation of Peterson Academy.Jordan Peterson’s Online University by Jordan B. Peterson (September 27, 2023) YouTube. As of July 2024, they have still not filled any staff positions.Careers Peterson Academy (archived from July 7, 2024).. From the scant information given from the website, it appears to be nothing more than the promise of a bunch of videos from some like-minded individuals: Jonathan Pageau on Symbolism & Christianity, Peterson on Nietzsche, Bret Weinstein & Heather Heying on Evolutionary Interference, James Orr on Plato, men's rights activist Warren Farrell on The Boy Crisis, Rob Henderson on The Psychology of Social Status, Nigel Bigger on Deconstruction Decolonization.Subscribe Peterson Academy.
==See also==
*Carl Jung
*Joseph Campbell
*Julius Evola
*List of Canadians who were prosecuted for using incorrect gender pronouns
*Peter Thiel — A right-wing billionaire who has reportedly had links to Peterson for years.Nafeez Ahmed (December 10, 2021). "Peter Thiel's Free Speech for Race Science Crusade at Cambridge University Revealed". Byline Times.Wesley Yang (May 1, 2018). "The Passion of Jordan Peterson". Esquire.
==External links==
===By Peterson===
*JordanBPeterson.com, his website
*JordanPetersonVideos on YouTube
*@JordanBPeterson on Twitter
*Dr Jordan B Peterson on Facebook
*drjordanbpeterson on Reddit
*Jordan B Peterson on Quora
===On Peterson===
*Jordanetics: A Journey Into the Mind of Humanity's Greatest Thinker by Vox Day. Really, what more needs saying? 
*r/EnoughPetersonSpam wiki
*I was Jordan Peterson's strongest supporter. Now I think he's dangerous, Bernard Schiff, The Star
*Analysis of Peterson's video "Genders, Rights and Freedom of Speech", The Agenda with Steve Paikin.
*Postmodernism Did Not Take Place: On Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life, Viewpoint Magazine
*Some humour about Peterson's inability to remember his social media passwords
*ContraPoints on Peterson's ideas about being "forced" to use pronouns, archived
*ContraPoints' video on Daddy Peterson
*A left-anarchic view of Peterson by John August, thinking anarchists have been left out because Peterson has taken a swipe at everyone else
*Philosophy Tube on Peterson and the meaning of life
*Thought Slime's take on Peterson
*An Evening With Matt Dillahunty & Jordan Peterson, in which Peterson presents exclusively tired old religious apologist arguments
*Cass Eris, herself a cognitive psychologist, gives an in-depth review of all chapters of 12 Rules for Life
*Camestros Felapton, Reading Peterson So You Don’t Have To (2018)
==Further reading==
*The Current Affairs Rules for Life: On Social Justice and its Critics/essays in defence of the left, (2018) Nathan J. Robinson ISBN 9780997844788 - A critique of Jordan Peterson and Sam Harris
==Notes==
==References==
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