566. The Moral of the Story With JBP: There's No Such Thing As A Dragon
In this episode of The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, Peterson examines the symbolic significance of dragons in human mythology and psychology. Drawing from David E. Jones's research, he explores how dragons represent a composite of evolutionary threats humans faced, while also symbolizing the potential rewards found in confronting the unknown.
Using the children's story "There's No Such Thing as a Dragon" as a framework, Peterson discusses how denial and willful blindness can allow problems to grow unchecked in families and communities. Through analysis of various narratives, including biblical stories, he demonstrates the relationship between facing challenges directly and achieving personal transformation, showing how acknowledgment of difficulties—rather than denial—leads to growth.
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Symbolic and Psychological Significance of Dragons and Myths
Jordan Peterson explores the complex symbolism of dragons in mythology, drawing from David E. Jones's work "An Instinct for Dragons." According to Jones, dragons represent a composite of evolutionary threats humans faced, including predators like big cats, snakes, and birds of prey. Peterson adds that dragons symbolize not just danger, but also potential rewards found in the unknown.
Dangers of Denial, Ignorance, and Willful Blindness
Peterson uses the children's story "There's No Such Thing as a Dragon" to illustrate how denial can lead to escalating problems. In the story, a mother's refusal to acknowledge a dragon in her house leads to its unchecked growth and eventual chaos. Peterson connects this to real-world scenarios where willful blindness in families or communities can allow problems to grow until they become unmanageable.
Importance Of Confronting Challenges For Growth and Redemption
Using various narratives, including biblical stories, Peterson demonstrates how facing difficulties head-on leads to personal transformation. He points to the story of the Israelites and the bronze serpent as an example of how confronting danger can lead to immunity against threats. Peterson also analyzes the crucifixion of Christ as the ultimate example of willingly confronting life's darkest aspects for redemption. Returning to the dragon story, he shows how the child Billy's courage to acknowledge the dragon, despite his mother's denial, represents the transformative power of facing challenges directly.
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Counterarguments
- The interpretation of dragons as a composite of evolutionary threats is not universally accepted; some scholars argue that dragons are more likely a product of cultural exchange and storytelling rather than a direct representation of evolutionary fears.
- The symbolism of dragons might be more diverse than danger and potential rewards, including elements of wisdom, power, and the natural world in different cultures.
- The idea that denial always leads to escalating problems may be too simplistic; in some cases, denial or temporary avoidance can be a coping mechanism that allows individuals to deal with problems at a pace they can handle.
- Willful blindness is not the only reason problems grow unmanageable; sometimes, lack of resources, knowledge, or external support can also contribute to the escalation of issues.
- The notion that confronting challenges always leads to personal transformation may overlook the complexity of human psychology and the fact that some individuals may not have the resilience or support needed to transform challenges into growth.
- The idea that facing difficulties head-on can lead to immunity against threats may not account for situations where repeated exposure to trauma can lead to harm or psychological damage rather than immunity.
- The concept of redemption through confronting life's darkest aspects may not resonate with all cultural or philosophical perspectives, which might have different interpretations of what constitutes redemption or how it is achieved.
- The belief in the transformative power of acknowledging challenges directly may not consider that transformation is a multifaceted process that can involve many factors beyond simply facing challenges.
Actionables
- Create a "Dragon Journal" to document and confront your personal challenges. Start by writing down the fears and problems you tend to avoid or deny. Reflect on them daily, and brainstorm actionable steps to address them. This process will help you acknowledge and tackle issues before they escalate, much like facing a metaphorical dragon.
- Develop a "Dragon's Hoard" savings strategy by setting aside a small amount of money each time you face a fear or challenge head-on. This could be anything from speaking up in a meeting to dealing with a difficult personal issue. The savings will represent the treasure that often comes with overcoming the dragons in our lives, reinforcing the value of confronting challenges.
- Initiate a monthly "Dragon Roundtable" with friends or family where everyone shares a personal challenge they're facing and the group offers support and advice. This collective approach helps prevent willful blindness within your community and encourages a culture of facing problems together, leading to shared personal growth and transformation.
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Symbolic and Psychological Significance of Dragons and Myths
Jordan Peterson dives into the intricate symbolism of dragons in mythology, exploring their dual representation of danger and potential.
Dragons Symbolize Predator Archetypes Humans Faced Through Evolution
Peterson discusses "An Instinct for Dragons" by David E. Jones, which posits an evolutionary explanation for the dragon mythos. Dragons are seen as symbolic composites of several predators—trees, cats, snakes, birds—threats humans or our ancestors encountered.
The Dragon Symbolizes Human Threats, Including Predators, Big Cats, Snakes, and Birds of Prey
Expanding upon Jones's thesis, Peterson notes that real-life predators such as bears, lions, Komodo dragons, and crocodiles, alongside elemental threats like fire, inform the multifaceted concept of dragons as ultimate predators.
Dragons Symbolize Potential and Promise, Not Just Threats
However, Peterson elaborates that dragons represent not only the primal dangers but also the immense rewards found in the unknown—a nod to the treasures often associated with dragons in numerous myths.
Dragons as Symbols of the "Terrible Predatory Unknown"
Heroes Find Courage to Face and Transform In Archetypal Dangers
Peterson articulates the dragon as an archetype of the fearsome unknown. He underscores the transformative journey ...
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Symbolic and Psychological Significance of Dragons and Myths
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Counterarguments
- The interpretation of dragons as predator archetypes is not universally accepted; some cultures may have developed dragon myths independently of evolutionary pressures from predators.
- Dragons could also be seen as symbols of natural disasters or cosmic forces, rather than just predators or elements of the unknown.
- The idea that dragons represent potential and promise, in addition to danger, could be a modern interpretation that may not align with the original intent behind various mythologies.
- The narrative of heroes confronting dragons might not always be about facing fear but could also represent overcoming internal struggles or societal challenges.
- The universality of dragon myths could be overstated; not all cultures have myths involving dragons, and those that do might not always ascribe to them the same symbolic significance.
- The psychological int ...
Actionables
- You can explore your personal dragons by journaling about fears and challenges that seem overwhelming. Write down what you're afraid of and why, then brainstorm ways you could confront these fears. For example, if public speaking terrifies you, consider joining a local Toastmasters club to practice and gain confidence.
- Transform your environment to reflect the balance of danger and potential by creating a 'dragon corner' in your home. This could be a space with items that symbolize your personal and professional challenges, paired with symbols of success and growth. For instance, place a picture of a mountain you want to climb next to your running shoes, reminding you of the journey and the reward.
- Develop a 'hero's workout' routine that metaphorically represents slaying your drago ...
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Dangers of Denial, Ignorance, and Willful Blindness
Jordan Peterson emphasizes the risks associated with denial, ignorance, and willful blindness, particularly as they relate to unresolved issues in personal and family life, which can grow and lead to global destruction if not acknowledged and addressed.
Ignoring Issues in Personal or Family Life Leads To Destruction
Billy's Mother Insists "No Such Thing as a Dragon" Despite Evidence
In "There's No Such Thing as a Dragon," Billy's mother represents the dangerous act of denial. Peterson refers to Billy Bixby's mother, who staunchly asserts "No such thing as a dragon," despite the presence and obvious growth of the creature in their household. This denial reflects a form of willful blindness, commonly observed in families and communities that reduce serious problems to nonexistence or exaggeration.
Willful Blindness in Families or Communities Denying Serious Problems
Willful blindness, as Peterson explains using the case of Osiris and Seth from Egyptian mythology, can lead to adverse outcomes if potential threats and malevolent forces are not recognized. Osiris' inability to see through his brother Seth's malevolence eventually led to his downfall – an allegory illustrating the impact of ignoring emerging unknowns in family or state affairs.
Ignoring Issues Lets Them Expand Until Unmanageable
Dragon Transforms From Friend To Massive House Disruptor
The dragon in Billy's story, an embodiment of ignored problems, grows from being the size of a kitten to a large, disruptive force that occupies the entire house and disrupts daily life. It increases in size whenever it's ignored, becoming unmanageable to the point where the household falls into disorder, and the family's life path is dictated by the overwhelming presence of the dragon.
Denial Blocks Intervention, Leading To Chaos and Dysfunction
The escalation of the dragon's presence metaphorically poses the significant risk of denial. As Billy's mother persists in denial, the dragon grows unhindered, adding to domestic chaos and making normal activities difficult, including cleaning and navigating around the house. Ultimately, Mr. Bixby’s house running away is an allegory by Peterson signifying how ignorance and rejection of issues within can lead to complete upheaval and chaos.
Addressing Problems Early Preve ...
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Dangers of Denial, Ignorance, and Willful Blindness
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Clarifications
- Jordan Peterson is a Canadian psychologist and author known for his views on personal responsibility, psychology, and societal issues. In his work, he often emphasizes the importance of confronting challenges and not turning a blind eye to problems, drawing on various examples and allegories to illustrate his points. Peterson's teachings encourage individuals to address issues early on to prevent them from escalating and causing chaos in personal and societal contexts. His interpretations of stories and myths, like the tale of Billy and the dragon, are used to convey deeper messages about the consequences of denial and ignorance in different aspects of life.
- The dragon in Billy's story symbolizes unresolved problems or issues that are ignored or denied. Its growth represents how these problems escalate when not addressed, eventually causing chaos and disruption in personal or family life. The dragon serves as a metaphor for the consequences of denial, ignorance, and willful blindness towards significant issues that can lead to destructive outcomes if left unchecked. Addressing these issues early can prevent them from growing into unmanageable challenges.
- Willful blindness is a legal term that describes a situation where someone intentionally avoids knowing about something that they could know. It implies a deliberate choice to ignore information that could lead to negative consequences. In the context of personal or societal issues, willful blindness can prevent individuals or groups from addressing problems effectively. By ...
Counterarguments
- While denial can be harmful, not all forms of denial are necessarily negative; in some cases, temporary denial can serve as a coping mechanism to help individuals deal with overwhelming situations until they are ready to face them.
- The concept of willful blindness might overlook the complexity of human psychology and the various reasons why people might choose not to see certain problems, such as fear, lack of resources, or cultural norms.
- The idea that ignoring issues allows them to grow unmanageable assumes a linear progression of problems, which may not always be the case; some issues may resolve on their own or remain static.
- The assertion that denial blocks intervention doesn't account for the possibility that other factors, such as external support or a change in circumstances, can lead to resolution even when denial is present.
- The recommendation to address problems early, while generally sound, may not consider that some problems require a more nuanced understanding or timing to address effectiv ...
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Importance Of Confronting Challenges For Growth and Redemption
In a discussion about confronting difficulties, various narratives illustrate how acknowledging and battling malevolence can lead to strength, redemption, and personal transformation.
Facing Threats Leads To Strength and Redemption
Confronting Danger: The Israelites and the Brazen Serpent Immunization
Jordan Peterson tells of an episode where the Israelites, on the brink of entering the Promised Land, behave with resentment. In response, God sends venomous snakes. The Israelites admit their error and plead with Moses to intervene. God commands them to make a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole; those who look upon it survive the snake venom. Peterson likens this incident to the principle of immunization, confronting a manageable aspect of something threatening to fortify oneself against it.
Crucifixion of Christ as Ultimate Redemptive Confrontation
Peterson refers to the crucifixion of Christ as the ultimate act of willingly confronting the darkest aspects of existence. The crucifixion symbolizes that even the most horrific challenges must be faced voluntarily for redemption. Peterson views the resurrection as a narrative of making peace with all elements of life, achieving universal redemption by willingly engaging with malevolence.
Confronting Denial for Personal Transformation and a Better Future
Billy's Defiance of His Mother By Acknowledging the Dragon Makes Him the Hero
In a parallel to the religious stories, the text implies that Billy becomes the protagonist by opposing his mother's denial and asserting the dragon's reality. Billy’s act of patting the dragon on the head, contrary to his mother’s ignorance of its existence, presents him as the courageous truth-seeker. This ack ...
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Importance Of Confronting Challenges For Growth and Redemption
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Counterarguments
- The principle of immunization might not be the best analogy for the story of the Israelites and the bronze serpent, as immunization involves exposure to a harmless form of a threat to build resistance, whereas the biblical story involves a symbolic act of faith and obedience.
- The idea that confronting manageable threats always fortifies against malevolence could be challenged by arguing that sometimes exposure to threats can lead to trauma or reinforce fear rather than strength.
- The interpretation of the crucifixion of Christ as an act of willingly facing darkness for redemption is specific to Christian theology and might not resonate with individuals from other religious or secular backgrounds.
- The resurrection narrative's significance might be seen differently by various cultures and religions, and some may argue that redemption can be achieved through other means, not necessarily through making peace with all elements of life.
- The story of Billy and the dragon could be criticized for potentially encouraging confrontation in situations where negotiation or understanding might be more appropriate.
- The notion that confronting and acknowledging challenges always restores order and peace can be countered by pointing out tha ...
Actionables
- You can strengthen your resilience by gradually increasing exposure to your fears through controlled challenges. Start with something small that you're afraid of, like speaking up in a meeting or trying a new activity that's outside your comfort zone. Gradually increase the difficulty of these challenges over time, which can help you build confidence and resilience in the face of larger adversities.
- Create a "redemption journal" where you reflect on difficult experiences and write down what you learned from them. This practice encourages you to face the darker aspects of your experiences and find meaning or growth that can come from them, much like the symbolism of resurrection. For example, after a tough day, write about the challenges you faced, how you dealt with them, and what you can take away from the experience to improve yourself or your situ ...
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