It is a bit of a mystery this interest in Objectivist circles of the very oddball Peterson with his wild rambling lectures overladen as they are with mysticism and the irrational 20th century psychologist theories to say nothing of his prediliction for Dostoyevsky's nihilism and Nietzche's equally dubious philosophical ideas.
If Peterson wants to example a great debunker of collectivism why not go to the most preminent source Ayn Rand rather than the limited journalistic concrete bound account by Solzhenityn who of course gets Peterson's imprimatur chiefly for his Christian theological beliefs.
Peterson makes no attempt to conceal his own agendas in the lecure hall which is surely a violation of the university principles of non partisan,non doctrinaire educational standards to mention nothing of his highly emotionalist browbeating harranguing style.
But Peterson is studious in his avoidance of Rand refusing to recognise that she represents the only alternative to his false opposing alternatives of nihilistic destructiveness,collectivist ideologies or mysticism.
Amy Peikoff has spent over 4 hours discussing Peterson's ridiculous best seller 12 Rules for Life which consists of nothing but embarrassingly bromidic platitudes and commonplaces such as,stand up straight improve your posture,don't let people take advantage of you,regulate your sleep and eating habits,don't let your children behave in a way that would make other people hate them -a regular Guide Book of Duh.
But worst of all of this is his malevolent view of human existence which flies directly in the face of everything objectivism believes, the world is a dark forboding Hobsian place controlled by evil supernatural forces,man is a fallen being and the way to confront it is with fortune cookie wisdom.
It is hard to believe that Peikoff needs such kindergarten instructions from Peterson but even if they have some shop soiled value it it does not forgive or justify tolerating his appalling metaphysics any more that a doctor who diagnosed a perfectly healthy man as being riddled with cancer and then advised him to eat healthily and get a good night's sleep should be respected or hailed as a fine physician.
This is not to say that Peikoff and co have not critiqued Peterson merely to question why they have given him any attention and publicity at all seeing that his fundamental philosophy is 360 degrees opposite to Objectivism.
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