Hello,
In this week’s edition, I explain how the connection between memories and a willingness to confront tragedy and malevolence allow for learning and improvement. Then, I talk with country music artist John Rich about the music industry, sacrifice and freedom, God's will, and belief as a way of living. From the archives, I discuss one philosophical problem in particular I have studied for 40 years in hopes of discovering a solution.
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Advice
Reduce The Probability Of Catastrophe
The parts of your psyche that bring back memories of being humiliated, for example, are part of an alarm system. It is the same alarm system that tells you unexplored territory is dangerous. If the consequence of being in a particular social situation is that you are being humiliated and undermined, then you have not mapped out that situation very well. While there may be all kinds of reasons as to why that is the case, it does not matter so far as the alarm system is concerned because it is fixated on the fact the situation is not good for you — and you are unable to forget that.
Often, traumatic memories are repetitive; people cannot get them out of their minds. But if you try to avoid them, you ignore the alarm system, which in turn only causes the alarm to go off more. That does not work. The proper antidote to the desire for unconsciousness in the face of the vicissitudes of life is a conscious willingness to advance in the face of tragedy and malevolence.
Instead, confront the memory. Ask yourself exactly what happened and exactly what part you played. Is there anything you could have done earlier or differently? If you allow yourself to make contact with the rough edges of the natural and social world, the probability is rather high that you can learn incrementally how to map the world and your actions in it; the probability is much reduced that you will be pathologically prone to catastrophe and betrayal.
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With a brand new introduction from liturgical artist and Christian thinker Jonathan Pageau, this biblical series by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson explores the psychological significance of the biblical stories in the book of Genesis. You can begin with episode 1, "Introduction to the Idea of God," in which Jordan lays the foundation for considering the notion of sovereignty and power — and God as akin to the spirit or pattern inherent in the human hierarchy of authority.
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An Unlikely Activist: Tommy Robinson On The Unrest In The UK
I was thinking about the story of Jonah when you were talking because Jonah is called upon by God to speak the truth, and he just heads in the other direction. He thinks exactly like you thought: I don’t think so. Who would do that? Who wants to do that? But that still does not quite answer the question; you said that you are caught, right? You are pulled because, on the one hand, you want to have your life and you want to be successful; on the other hand, you want to tell the truth.
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Prophecy, Revelation, & The Spiritual Battle | John Rich | EP 470
In this episode, I sit down with country music artist John Rich. We discuss his new independent song release “Revelation,” the balance of artistic and commercial merit, recognizing constraints that detract from your proper orientation, discerning the spirits from the shadows, and the biblical Christ.
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The Reality Of Evil
In this brief portion of one of my lectures, I pose a few exceptionally challenging questions for consideration. Over the duration of my studies, I became aware of and began studying one philosophical problem in particular, which I believe is of great importance. Often, if you can understand the motivation behind a problem, you can understand the counter. In other words, understanding a problem allows you to work toward a solution. So, for 40 years, I have studied the motivation to commit atrocity in the service of belief and, in turn, have become convinced of the reality of evil. What, then, is to be done about it?
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Thank you for reading,
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson
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