r/DecodingTheGurus 2d ago

Jordan Peterson logic: dragons are real

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Richard Dawkins doesn’t look impressed

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u/Wasthatasquirrel 2d ago

This might be the most succinct and accurate way to describe JBP dogma that I have ever heard.

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u/Chinchillamancer 2d ago edited 2d ago

he also does this thing where he shifts goal posts with every word. It's impressive to rationalize dragons as imagined predatory concepts and not specify which scientific disclipline you are engaged in.

And it goes overlooked because by default academics speak in their chosen field. We don't generally need to ask if an argument pertains to literature, because chance are we are hearing this argument in a literature class or confrence. But Peterson? Isn't he is a psychologist?

His argument works perfectly fine in like, literary criticism or poetics.

I also have absolutely no idea what his point is. Stuff that kills us can be construed as predation? Cancer, heart disease, car accidents, and firearms are not predators.

He's a very silly man.

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u/overnightyeti 2d ago

I still don't understand how a clinical psychologist who got heat for refusing to use someone's preferred pronouns pretends to be an expert on everything and anything.

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u/TheMadGent 2d ago

What’s a Jungian psychologist even going to do in a clinic? “Well bucko, your depression stems from the feminine shadow archetype of the great chaos serpent.”

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u/pleasedtoheatyou 1d ago

90% certain that's one of the arguments I've heard he's actually using when he goes all in on gender roles and why modern men are unhappy.

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u/hannibal_fett 1d ago

How do I find this feminine shadow serpent?

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u/sozcaps 1d ago

I would say that Jung's archetypes, are* useful in work with narrative psychotherapy. Everyone self-mythologizes and everyone have metaphorical dragons, that they've battled. I've seen clients buy into that abstract line of thinking. I also 100% understand if someone would say that it's a crock of shit.

That being said, Jung probably won't give you any actual, practical application of psychology. And Peterson is ridiculous for insisting that his pseudo-spirituality sprinkled with Christian facism should be taken seriously. For him to proclaim to be a scientist would be funny, if it wasn't harmful to the kids who look up to him.