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The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
God and the Hierarchy of Authority
Jun 11, 2017
02:42:00
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Quick takeaways
- Encountering the unknown triggers a freezing response in prey animals but also fuels curiosity, representing the human ability to explore and confront the unknown.
- The process of embodying, dreaming, and speaking about our encounters with the unknown is crucial in the generation and transmission of wisdom.
- Ethical standards emerge from the embodied experience of confronting the unknown and the interactions within hierarchical structures.
- The role of the father figure is to encourage individuals, especially sons, to confront the chaos of the unknown and transform it into habitable order, passing down wisdom through generations.
- Human beings traded their gut instincts for the development of the brain, making them more attractive and better equipped to confront the unknown.
- Hierarchy, attention, and morality are interconnected, symbolizing the pursuit of wisdom, paying attention to consequences, and the transformative power of moral revelation.
Deep dives
Acting out the encounter with the unknown
The first level of contact with the unknown is the emotional combination of freezing and curiosity. It's the encounter with what is beyond comprehension. It's reflected in the dragon stories and the symbolism of a serpent-like creature representing chaos. The unknown triggers a freezing response in prey animals but also fuels curiosity. This dynamic is deeply embedded in our psyche and represents the human ability to explore and confront the unknown.
The evolution of stories and knowledge
As we act out our encounters with the unknown, we generate stories. We watch others as they act it out and form narratives. Over time, these narratives become patterns and abstractions that we articulate as stories and knowledge. This process of embodying, dreaming, and speaking about our encounters with the unknown is crucial in the generation and transmission of wisdom.
The emergence of ethical standards
Ethical standards have evolutionary roots. They emerge from the embodied experience of confronting the unknown and the interactions within hierarchical structures. The ability to for humans to abstract patterns and virtues from these experiences allows for the development of ethical standards. Ethical behavior is deeply rooted in exploration, embryonic cognitive structures, and the social construct of hierarchies.
The role of the father and the trinity
The role of the father figure is to encourage individuals, especially sons, to confront the chaos of the unknown and transform it into habitable order. This lineage of wisdom is passed down through generations. The trinitarian idea represents the interplay between the structures of consciousness, consciousness itself, and the indwelling spirit. This abstraction of virtues and the interplay between conscious and embodied action provide a framework for ethical and meaningful living.
Hierarchy of Authority and the Unknown
The podcast explores the idea that human beings traded their gut instincts for the development of the brain, which made them more attractive and better equipped to confront the unknown. It discusses the archetypal story of Saint George and the dragon, highlighting the sexual attractiveness of masculine spirit in encountering the unknown. The podcast also touches upon the concept of known unknowns and unknown unknowns, emphasizing the importance of reacting to the latter. It suggests that stress circuits may be permanently active in human beings due to our awareness of mortality.
Dominance Hierarchies in Lobsters
The podcast discusses the importance of dominance hierarchies, using lobsters as an example. It explains how lobsters establish their hierarchies through physical dominance displays, and how winning increases serotonin levels, leading to confidence and growth. It draws parallels between lobsters and human hierarchies, suggesting that dominance hierarchies have been conserved since the time of lobsters, making them an ancient and fundamental aspect of human organization.
Play and the Emergence of Hierarchy and Morality
The podcast explores the role of play in the emergence of hierarchy and morality. It discusses how young rats and primates engage in play to establish social hierarchies and learn societal rules. It emphasizes the importance of fairness and reciprocity in play, and the deeper social goals it serves. It also highlights the connection between play and the development of the prefrontal cortex, illustrating how play shapes cognitive and moral abilities in both animals and humans.
Hierarchy, Attention, and Morality
The podcast delves into the relationship between hierarchy, attention, and morality. It explains how hierarchies, such as those depicted in old religious artworks, symbolize the ascent to authority and the pursuit of wisdom. The podcast emphasizes the importance of paying attention and being awake to the consequences of one's actions. It explores the moral implications of staying on the path of order and avoiding chaos, as well as the transformative power of moral revelation and the making of rules.
The value of striving towards the top
Striving towards the top of a hierarchy is not only about reaching the peak, but about using the discipline and skills gained to transcend the hierarchy. By doing so, individuals can attain a higher level of being and release themselves from the constraints of the pyramid structure. This idea is substantiated in religious concepts like the Holy Ghost and the story of Sisyphus, emphasizing the importance of continual effort and finding meaning in tasks, even when faced with setbacks.
Recognizing the capacity for both good and evil
Understanding the potential for both good and evil within oneself is a crucial step towards enlightenment and personal growth. By recognizing the capability to act in morally reprehensible ways, individuals gain a deeper understanding of their own darkness. Embracing this knowledge does not mean one is destined to act on it, but rather it allows for a greater sense of responsibility and a genuine appreciation for one's own potential for good.
The importance of encountering the shadow
Encountering the shadow refers to gaining awareness of the dark and destructive aspects that exist within human nature. This confrontation with the potential for evil enables individuals to develop self-awareness and take responsibility for their actions. Accepting the existence of one's own capacity for evil is a transformative experience that leads to personal growth, increased self-respect, and the ability to pursue the good with true seriousness.
Navigating the chaos and order in life
Life is characterized by the continual interaction between chaos and order. Chaos represents the unknown and the potential for disorder, while order provides structure and stability. Humans are meant to navigate the boundary between chaos and order, using their capacity for exploration to transform chaos into order. This engagement with both chaos and order creates a sense of meaning and purpose, reduces anxiety, and fosters creativity.
21.
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I'm Not Going to Answer That at All, but It's a Crucial Issue There, I Don't Know.
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Is There a Relationship Between Criminality, Creativity, Drive to Change the World?
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Do You Think That the Rebellious Tendency of Adolescence Is Associated With Female Political Power?
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Lecture 3 in my Psychological Significance of the Biblical Stories series at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto. Although I thought I might get to Genesis II in this third lecture, and begin talking about Adam & Eve, it didn't turn out that way. There was more to be said about the idea of God as creator (with the Word as the process underlying the act of creation). I didn't mind, because it is very important to get God and the Creation of the Universe right before moving on :) .
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