We Who Wrestle With God: In the Image of God

Jordan Peterson discusses the complex nature of identity, urging a deeper consideration of its integration with society, culture, history, and the cosmos, and how this complexity is reflected in our communications.

Identity encompasses far more than just individual consciousness or subjective desires

Peterson embarks on a rich debate about the individual's role within society and the political system, emphasizing that identity extends beyond personal or subjective elements. He challenges the notion that the individual is a separate atomistic entity, underscoring the broader connections that shape identity, such as language, culture, and history.

An individual's identity is intricately connected to and shaped by the broader context of language, culture, history, and the material/cosmic order

Peterson notes that an individual's identity is far-reaching, tracing into the realms of mystery within the material level and touching the broader order of things. This perspective indicates that one's identity is not only a reflection of subjective self-perception but also a result of the collective complexities of the world.

The act of communication, such as writing, is deeply reflective of one's full identity

According to Peterson, communication, specifically writing, is a motor action with layers of complexity underlying it, from muscle movement to subatomic particles. He elaborates on the idea that every act of writing is steeped in the vastness of one’s identity.

Each word, phrase, and sentence expressed reflects the totality of one's being, from the physical to the transcendent

Peterson articulates that the crafting of words is a deliberate process that merges letters, forming phrases and sentences that communicate broader meaning. Eac ...

Modern society faces significant challenges in how identity is defined and understood, primarily due to its politicization and an increasing focus on subjectivity and hedonism.

The politicization of identity has caused sacred elements of identity to become dangerously conflated with the political realm

The intertwining of the sacred with the political is deeply troubling, as it blurs what should be distinct realms. Peterson articulates the issue with the "death of God," which symbolizes the collapse of the higher order of values into the political sphere, rendering human values and identity adrift from their transcendent anchorage. The conflation of sacred elements with politics can lead to undesirable consequences, stripping identity of its traditional grounding and role. Peterson further cautions that with the loss of shared values, society may now be charged with redefining identity from its basic principles.

He emphasizes the risks involved when group identities, such as race or gender, become the central focus of politics rather than the individual, suggesting that such perspectives can foster conflict and a careless disregard for personal suffering. Peterson implies that individual integrity is endangered when identity is transformed into a field of political conflict.

The modern emphasis on subjective, hedonistic identity is a recipe for social and personal disaster

Peterson challenges the idea that identity should be bound to subjective desires, arguing that such a stance reduces individuals to being captives of their primal instincts rather than fulfilling their true selves. He labels the chase after wealth for hedonistic pleasures as a "delusional dream," and proclaims that the refusal to grow up is tantamount to a form of self-destruction, as it equates to the killing of one's most promising self.

Choosing immaturity leads to degeneration and an arduous life that becomes too great to endure. Like the character Peter Pan, those who refuse maturity doom themselves and disrupt societal connections, exemplified by Peter's refusal to grow up and form a meaningful relationship with Wendy, leading to a breakdown of family units and potential futures. The individual's inability to contribute constructively to the society around them results in profound loneliness and perpetual immaturity, particularly by middle age.

Peterson points out the falsehood of equating identity with whatever one feels or desires in the moment, criticizing this view as a sign of a failed transcendent understanding of identity. The example of sexual pref ...

Jordan Peterson discusses the concept of mature identity formation, describing it as a journey toward responsible engagement with oneself and the broader community that aligns with both psychological and social flourishing.

Maturity involves the ability to delay immediate gratification in service of long-term wellbeing and responsibility to others

Peterson points out that maturity is characterized by the ability to delay gratification and focus on long-term wellbeing. Mature individuals are those who prioritize their future welfare through disciplined decision-making, rather than indulging in present desires that could lead to future instability. Peterson stresses that a mature person considers their role as a responsible agent, balancing personal freedom with duties towards family and community.

Cultivating traits like conscientiousness and the willingness to make sacrifices for the future is essential for psychological and social flourishing. Conscientious people forego immediate rewards to stabilize things for the long run, a gesture Peterson considers sacrificial. He explains that maturity encompasses the capability to care not only for one’s future self but also for others and the broader community.

The heroic mythological archetype represents the process of identity development beyond mere duty and into the realm of the transcendent

Peterson moves beyond simple concepts of duty and maturity to discuss the mythological hero's journey as a metaphor for the ultimate identity development. The journey from ordinary individual to hero is marked by overcoming challenges and facing fearsome entities like dragons, which represent the composite of various predators. Through such confrontations, the individual transcends and achieves peak development in their identity.

He emphasizes the hero’s necessity of int ...

As the cultural discussion around identity intensifies, Jordan Peterson underscores the intricate connection between who we are, our moral actions, and the transcendent realm. He posits that at the heart of this nexus rests the ultimate heroic confrontation with death and evil, as epitomized by the Christian Passion narrative.

The Christian Passion narrative represents the ultimate heroic confrontation with death, evil, and malevolence

Peterson illuminates the narrative of Christ’s crucifixion and descent into hell as the ultimate battle against destruction and malevolence. This story encapsulates the voluntary undertaking of the supreme sacrifice which, according to Peterson, is the pinnacle of human identity development. In his view, to confront catastrophic forces voluntarily and without corruption, while striving for moral good, represents the highest form of identity one can achieve.

Voluntarily undertaking this type of supreme sacrifice and maintaining one's upward moral aim is the pinnacle of human identity development

Emphasizing the importance of the individual within this paradigm, Peterson postulates that identity cannot be divorced from moral and transcendental considerations. He critiques hedonistic immaturity, comparing it to Peter Pan's refusal to grow up, as a state that not only harms the individual but disrupts moral order. Beyond maturity and responsibility, Peterson references stories like "The Hobbit" and "The Lion King," where heroes journey into the transcendent. The heroes, often sons or adventurers, represent the transition into a heroic figure associated with divine adventure.

Embracing this burdensome yet redemptive adventure of identity is the key to setting the world right and bridging the gap between the earthly and the divine

Peterson discusses how embracing the role of upward-aiming truth-tellers and manifesting the logos can realign the distorted landscape of the world. He proposes that each individual, by facing burdens and moving forward positively, can overcome death and defeat evil.

Rejecting this responsibility leads to in ...