Jordan Peterson on Nietzsche: Is God dead? | Lex Fridman Podcast Clips

TL;DR

Scientists must acknowledge and engage with the transcendent to move science forward effectively.

Transcript

i've been thinking about this a lot especially since talking to richard dawkins it's like okay the post-modernist types going back way before dara dan fuco maybe back to nietzsche who i admire greatly by the way he says god is dead it's like okay but nietzsche said god is dead and we have killed him and will not find enough water to wash away all t... Read More

Key Insights

• 👻 The rejection of the transcendent has allowed science to progress and move forward without the limitations of religious beliefs and superstitions.
• 🧑‍🔬 Scientists must believe in the existence of the ontological transcendent to challenge and improve their theories objectively.
• 🦮 Contact with the transcendent offers freedom, knowledge, and abundance, guiding the narrative and direction of science.
• 🔬 Humility and a recognition of the transcendent are essential for ethical considerations in science.
• 🔬 Materialist reductionism cannot fully explain the complexity of nature and matter, highlighting the limits of human assumptions in science.
• 😚 Without the transcendent, science can lose its humility and take a trajectory away from ethical considerations.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the rejection of the transcendent benefit science?

By rejecting religious superstitions, science becomes free from hindrances and can focus on objective reasoning and evidence-based theories.

Q: Why must scientists believe in the existence of the ontological transcendent?

Believing in the transcendent allows scientists to challenge their theories objectively and revitalize them based on evidence, leading to scientific progress.

Q: What does contact with the transcendent offer scientists?

Contact with the transcendent sets scientists free, providing freedom from want, disease, and ignorance. It informs the narrative and directionality of science, leading to a more abundant and fulfilling life.

Q: How does the transcendent relate to ethical considerations in science?

The transcendent posits that knowledge structures should be regarded with humility, and scientists should bow down in the face of transcendent evidence. It establishes an underlying ethic for science, emphasizing truth and a redemptive force for humanity.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The rejection of the transcendent has allowed science to progress by freeing it from religious superstitions.

• Scientists must believe in the existence of the ontological transcendent to challenge and improve their theories.

• Contact with the transcendent is redemptive for scientists, leading to greater freedom, knowledge, and abundance in life.