Glenn Greenwald and Dr. Jordan B Peterson discuss the war on information, the basis of morality, and the case for God in a world of nihilism. They explore topics such as false social moralism, the human need for meta narratives, the risk of censorship, the influence of corporations, the impact of 9/11 on civil liberties, the collapse of religion into politics, and the dominance of the culture war.
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Quick takeaways
Importing religious language into politics can lead to an uncompromising good-versus-evil mentality and justify censorship.
Spirituality and religion provide a basis for ethics, empathy, and meaning in life.
Belief in something transcendent is fundamental to personal and social development.
While faith in something supernatural lacks concrete proof, it has been sought across cultures and can bring fulfillment beyond earthly existence.
Deep dives
The dangers of collapsing religion and politics
The conversation explores the risks associated with collapsing religious and political frameworks. The speaker argues that when religious language and beliefs are imported into politics, it can lead to an uncompromising good-versus-evil mentality. This mindset can result in a loss of empathy for differing perspectives and a justification for censorship. Furthermore, the conversation highlights the need for a separate language to discuss concepts of good and evil outside of the political realm. It emphasizes the danger of turning political discussions into religious battles and the importance of maintaining a distinction between personal spiritual beliefs and the wielding of political power.
The importance of spirituality and religion
The speaker reflects on their own journey with spirituality and religion, mentioning how they previously viewed the absence of religious beliefs as a source of pride and sophistication. However, as they have gotten older, they have come to see spirituality and religion as integral to a complete human existence. This spiritual exploration provides a basis for ethics and morality, instilling a sense of empathy and compassion for others. The speaker also contemplates the consequences of a life without spiritual beliefs, suggesting that it could potentially lead to nihilism and a lack of purpose and meaning.
The role of faith in decision-making
The conversation delves into the role of faith in decision-making and moral judgments. The speaker discusses the importance of belief in a transcendent metaphysics or animating spirit as a basis for ethical systems. They propose that listening to an inner voice that guides individuals towards adventure or resistance to tyranny is a decision of faith, rather than a hypothetical justification for the supernatural. The speaker suggests that these decisions reflect an orientation towards a principle rooted in the belief in something greater than oneself. They highlight that such a belief system is fundamental to personal and social development.
Understanding the risks and benefits of religious and political belief
The conversation explores the risks and benefits of religious and political belief systems. The speaker acknowledges that faith in transcendence can provide a unifying purpose and ethical framework for individuals and societies. However, they caution against the dangers of indoctrination, fanaticism, and the collapsing of religious beliefs into political battles. They emphasize the need for introspection, empathy, and critical thinking when navigating both personal spiritual beliefs and political engagements.
The tension between belief and lack of concrete evidence
The podcast explores the challenge of believing in something supernatural or transcendent without concrete proof, emphasizing that both affirming and negating such beliefs lack dispositive proof. The speaker notes that technological advancements can lead to an overconfidence in the superiority of our wisdom, but human beings across cultures and religions have sought fulfillment and purpose beyond the limited scope of their earthly existence.
The pitfalls of pursuing material success for happiness
The podcast delves into the speaker's personal experiences and realization that pursuing materialistic achievements, such as career success and financial prosperity, did not lead to lasting happiness. The loss of her husband compelled her to question her previous view of fulfillment and opened her eyes to the importance of family and spirituality in finding purpose and happiness.
The erosion of democratic accountability and the importance of addressing societal inequalities
The podcast discusses the erosion of democratic accountability in Western societies, with an increasing gap between the elite and the majority of people. It highlights the concentration of power among the wealthy, the lack of consequences for corporate malfeasance, and the immense influence of the intelligence and security apparatus. The speaker argues for addressing systemic inequalities and criticizes the use of fear and external threats to justify expanding authoritarian powers.
Dr. Jordan B Peterson sits down with author, journalist, and political commentator Glenn Greenwald. They discuss the war on information: how social moralism, religious rhetoric, conceptual safety, and false compassion have been used and propagandized to reshape the western world into a good versus bad, red versus blue polarity. They also explore the human need for meta narratives, the basis of morality, and the case for God in a world that offers nihilism.
Glenn Greenwald is a journalist, author, and former constitutional law attorney. His original hit blog was a springboard into writing for Salon and the Guardian with a focus on national security issues. In 2013, he published the now iconic Snowden documents detailing global government surveillance by the U.S. and British governments. In 2019 Greenwald again broke leaked documents, this time for “Operation Car Wash,” which shone a spotlight on the corruption of the Brazilian judicial system. He would later detail his work in a series of books such as Securing Democracy: My Fight for Press Freedom and Justice in Brazil and No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State.
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Watch System Update on youtube https://www.youtube.com/@GlennGreenwald
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