Jordan Peterson: The fatal flaw in leftist American politics | Big Think

TL;DR

Post-modernists lack a coherent narrative and default to loose Marxism, driving activism. Markers for extremism on the right are identified, but not on the left. The left's focus on equality can go too far with concepts like equity.

Transcript

I would like to talk briefly about depolarization on the Left and the Right, because I think there’s a technical problem that needs to be addressed. So here’s what I’ve been thinking about. It’s been obvious to me for some time that, for some reason, the fundamental claim of post-modernism is something like an infinite number of interpretations and... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Post-modernists lack a coherent narrative, leading to a default to Marxism.
• ↔️ Extremism exists on both the left and right, but markers for extremism on the right are acknowledged, while the left fails to identify its own markers.
• 🗨️ The focus on equality by the left can go too far, with concepts like equity being the most unacceptable as they promote equality of outcome.
• 🗨️ Intersectionality, a concept on the left, reveals the fundamental flaw of identity politics, as groups can be multiplied without limit.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the problem with post-modernism's lack of a coherent narrative?

Without a canonical overarching narrative, individuals are left without a value structure to orient themselves in the world, leading to a default to loose, egalitarian Marxism.

Q: Why do post-modernists default to Marxism?

The force driving activism is mainly Marxism, with post-modernism serving as an intellectual gloss. However, since coherence is not a concern, the lack of a narrative doesn't seem to be a problem for them.

Q: What led to the transformation of Marxism into post-modern identity politics?

The French intellectuals pulled off a sleight of hand by transforming Marxism after the devastating consequences of communism became evident. This transformation resulted in a tribalistic approach to politics.

Q: What is the ethical failure on the left?

The left fails to identify markers of pathological extremism within their own ideology. This failure to distinguish themselves from those holding extreme viewpoints may undermine the liberal-left project.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Post-modernists lack a canonical overarching narrative, leading them to default to loose, egalitarian Marxism as a value structure.

• French intellectuals transformed Marxism into post-modern identity politics, leading to a devolution into tribalism on the left.

• Extremism exists on both sides, but while markers for extremism on the right are acknowledged, the left fails to identify markers for pathological extremism.