“There Are No Socialist Intellectuals”: The Hypocrisy of Jordan Peterson

Summary

This video critiques Jordan Peterson's claim that there are no great socialist intellectuals, exposing contradictions in his stance. The creator highlights Peterson's endorsement of socialist authors like George Orwell and Ernest Hemingway, despite his anti-socialist rhetoric. The video explores the diversity of socialist ideologies, explaining how terms like socialism and communism are often misunderstood. It also addresses Peterson's intellectual inconsistencies and how he seems to appreciate works by leftist thinkers, which contradicts his public dismissals of socialism. The creator aims to reveal Peterson's cognitive dissonance on this subject.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The tweet claiming 'there are no great socialist intellectuals by definition' sparks the author's contemplation due to its cognitive dissonance.
• 📚 Jordan Peterson's recommended literature list includes numerous socialist authors, contradicting his claim against socialist intellectuals.
• 🧠 The video aims to highlight the cognitive dissonance or 'doublethink' exhibited by Jordan Peterson regarding socialism and intellectuals.
• 📖 The script discusses the definition of socialism, emphasizing its diversity and range of ideologies beyond authoritarian models.
• 🏛 Examples of socialist leaders like Joseph Stalin and Salvador Allende are used to illustrate the vastly different outcomes of socialist governance.
• 👥 The video points out that socialism is often misunderstood and conflated with authoritarianism, which is not inherently part of its ideology.
• 📚 George Orwell, a democratic socialist, is admired by Peterson, yet his political stance is overlooked in favor of his literary contributions.
• 📘 Kurt Vonnegut, another author on Peterson's list, is misrepresented as anti-leftist, despite his clear support for democratic socialism.
• 📑 The script challenges the reductionist view that all socialists are authoritarian, highlighting various anti-authoritarian branches of socialism.
• 🤷‍♂️ The video suggests that Peterson's dismissal of socialist intellectuals is not consistent with the breadth of socialist thought and his own literary influences.
• 📈 The script concludes by emphasizing the intellectual immaturity of making sweeping statements about socialism and intellectuals, especially when one's own influences contradict such claims.

Q & A

What is the main point of the video script?

The main point of the video script is to highlight the cognitive dissonance exhibited by Jordan Peterson, particularly regarding his claim that 'there are no great socialist intellectuals by definition,' while his recommended literature list includes works by known socialist authors.

What does the term 'doublethink' refer to as used in the script?

In the script, 'doublethink' is used to describe the act of holding two contradictory beliefs simultaneously, a term originally coined by George Orwell in his novel '1984'.

What is the script's stance on socialism?

The script argues that socialism is often misunderstood and misrepresented, being both equated with authoritarian regimes and used as a pejorative for more moderate political figures. It emphasizes the diversity of socialist ideologies.

Who are some of the socialist figures mentioned in the script?

The script mentions figures like Joseph Stalin, Salvador Allende, George Orwell, and Kurt Vonnegut, highlighting the different outcomes and beliefs within socialism.

Why does the script mention George Orwell's '1984'?

The script mentions '1984' to draw a parallel between the concept of 'doublethink' and Jordan Peterson's contradictory views on socialist intellectuals.

What is the significance of the recommended literature list on Jordan Peterson's website as discussed in the script?

The recommended literature list is significant because it includes works by socialist authors that Peterson himself admires, contradicting his claim that there are no great socialist intellectuals.

What is the script's view on the diversity of socialist ideologies?

The script views socialism as an umbrella term with many diverse offshoots, including democratic socialism, libertarian socialism, market socialism, Marxism-Leninism, anarcho-syndicalism, and Trotskyism, among others.

Why does the script discuss the works of Kurt Vonnegut?

The script discusses Vonnegut's works to counter the misconception that he was anti-socialist, highlighting his admiration for democratic socialism and his opposition to authoritarianism.

What is the script's critique of Jordan Peterson's tweet about socialist intellectuals?

The script critiques Peterson's tweet as a reductionist take that he himself does not seem to believe, given his admiration for works by socialist authors.

What is the script's position on the relationship between capitalism and corporatism?

The script suggests that failures of capitalism are sometimes attributed to 'corporatism' or 'corporatocracy,' which is a political system dominated by corporate interests, rather than capitalism itself.

What is the purpose of the video script?

The purpose of the video script is not to convert viewers to any particular political ideology but to demonstrate the intellectual inconsistency in Jordan Peterson's public statements and recommendations.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Cognitive Dissonance of Jordan Peterson

The paragraph discusses a tweet by Jordan Peterson claiming that there are no great socialist intellectuals by definition. The author reflects on this statement, noting the cognitive dissonance it presents, especially considering Peterson's admiration for George Orwell's work, '1984', which includes the concept of 'doublethink'. The author aims to highlight this dissonance through the video, contrasting Peterson's claim with his own recommended literature list, which includes works by known socialists like George Orwell and Ernest Hemingway. The paragraph also delves into a brief explanation of socialism, addressing common misconceptions and the diversity within socialist ideologies, ranging from democratic socialism to Marxism-Leninism. It contrasts authoritarian socialist regimes with democratic socialist leaders like Salvador Allende of Chile, who achieved positive social reforms, and points out the inconsistency in labeling both Mao Zedong and moderate politicians like Barack Obama as socialists.

05:05

📚 Jordan Peterson's Recommended Leftist Literature

This paragraph continues the critique of Jordan Peterson's stance on socialism by examining his recommended literature list, which includes numerous works by authors with socialist or leftist ideologies. Despite Peterson's tweet suggesting a dismissal of socialist intellectuals, the list features authors like Leo Tolstoy, an anarchist, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky, who had a complex relationship with socialism. The author points out the irony in Peterson recommending books by these authors while also making reductionist claims about socialism. The paragraph also touches on the broader spectrum of leftist thought, from anti-authoritarian socialism to libertarian socialism, and critiques the common conflation of capitalism with corporatism. It concludes by emphasizing that the video's purpose is not to promote any particular ideology but to highlight the intellectual inconsistency in Peterson's public statements and recommendations.

Keywords

💡Socialism

Socialism is a political and economic theory advocating for collective ownership or regulation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. In the video, socialism is discussed as an umbrella term encompassing various ideologies, contrasting with common misconceptions that equate it solely with authoritarian regimes. The script uses examples like the Soviet Union and China to illustrate the diversity of socialist thought.

💡Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance refers to the mental discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs or values. The video highlights cognitive dissonance in Jordan Peterson's views, as he criticizes socialism while recommending works by socialist authors, thus creating a contradiction.

💡Doublethink

Doublethink is a term from George Orwell's '1984', describing the act of simultaneously accepting two mutually contradictory beliefs as correct. The video uses this term to critique the author's own contradictory views on socialism and intellectuals, suggesting a form of intellectual dishonesty.

💡Authoritarian Socialism

Authoritarian Socialism is a form of socialism characterized by a centralized state controlling the economy. The video contrasts this with other, more democratic forms of socialism, using Joseph Stalin as an example of an authoritarian socialist to illustrate the diversity within socialist ideologies.

💡Democratic Socialism

Democratic Socialism combines socialist economic policies with a democratic political system. The video presents Salvador Allende as an example of a democratic socialist, emphasizing the difference between his policies and those of authoritarian socialists.

💡Intellectual

An intellectual is someone who engages in deep thinking and produces original ideas. The video challenges the notion that there can't be 'great socialist intellectuals' by pointing out the intellectual contributions of figures like George Orwell and Ernest Hemingway, who were both socialists.

💡Corporatism

Corporatism is an economic system in which the activities of businesses are directed by the state or dominated by large corporations. The video discusses how some capitalists, including Jordan Peterson, distinguish between failures of 'corporatism' and 'capitalism', suggesting that the failures of the former are not indicative of the latter.

💡Anarchism

Anarchism is a political philosophy that advocates for the absence of government and hierarchy. The video mentions Leo Tolstoy, who, despite not identifying as a socialist, was an anarchist and opposed to capitalism, showing the overlap and differences between various leftist ideologies.

💡Recommended Literature

Recommended Literature refers to a curated list of books that an individual, like Jordan Peterson, suggests as influential or important. The video points out the irony in Peterson's list, which includes many socialist authors, despite his public stance against socialism.

💡State Capitalism

State Capitalism is an economic system where the state exercises control over capitalist elements. The video discusses how failures of past authoritarian communist states are sometimes attributed to state capitalism rather than socialism itself, highlighting the complexity of economic systems.

💡Anti-authoritarian

Anti-authoritarianism opposes centralized authority and control. The video uses this term to describe certain branches of socialist thought that prioritize individual freedom and worker autonomy, contrasting with more authoritarian forms of socialism.

Highlights

The tweet claiming 'there are no great socialist intellectuals by definition' sparks cognitive dissonance in its author.

Jordan Peterson's support for George Orwell contradicts his dismissal of socialist intellectuals.

1984's concept of 'doublethink' is used to illustrate the contradiction in Peterson's views.

Socialism is defined as advocating for community ownership or regulation of production and distribution.

Socialism encompasses a wide range of ideologies, from democratic to libertarian socialism.

Examples of socialist leaders with contrasting outcomes: Joseph Stalin vs. Salvador Allende.

Jordan Peterson's claim that there are no socialist intellectuals is disputed.

Peterson's recommended literature includes works by known socialist authors.

George Orwell, a democratic socialist, is highlighted as influential to Peterson.

Kurt Vonnegut, an anti-authoritarian who admired democratic socialism, is misrepresented by Peterson's use of his work.

Vonnegut's admiration for Eugene Debs, an influential American socialist, is noted.

The video challenges the conflation of socialism with authoritarianism.

Corporatism is distinguished from capitalism, with Peterson and others arguing failures are due to corporatism.

The video points out the irony of Peterson recommending numerous leftist authors despite his criticism of socialism.

Leo Tolstoy, listed in Peterson's recommendations, was an anarchist and anti-capitalist.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky's early socialist beliefs and later anti-socialist stance are mentioned.

The video concludes by emphasizing the diversity of leftist thought and the inconsistency in Peterson's views.

Transcripts

"there are no great socialist intellectuals by  definition" this is a tweet that I think about  

often not because I have any massive desire  to disprove it nor do I plan to flesh out  

an in-depth argument as to why socialism I'm not  Albert Einstein yes he did write that the reason  

this tweet lives rent free in my head is due to  the egregious display of cognitive dissonance by  

its author Jordan Peterson Jordan Peterson has  publicly shown his support for George Orwell  

and his works he's a fan of Orwell's magnum opus  1984 as am I if you've read 1984 then you're aware  

that in the novel Orwell constructs a language  unique to the universe he created one of the  

terms "doublethink" is meant to describe the state  of holding two contradictory beliefs in this video  

I hope to point out the double think or cognitive  dissonance of Jordan Peterson to get back to his  

claim that there is by definition no such thing  as a socialist intellectual let alone a great one  

I want to really quickly talk about socialism  and what exactly it means a lot of people hear  

socialism and they immediately think of the  Soviet Union Mao's China North Korea and all  

these authoritarian States yet in some cases  those same people simultaneously use socialism as  

a pejorative to describe milquetoast liberals or  social Democrats how many times have you heard an  

anti-socialist use the term socialist to describe  Barack Obama or Kamala Harris or more recently Tim  

Walz but how could these people concurrently  believe that socialism is both Mao Zedong and  

also Tim Walz it's because they don't know what  Socialism or communism for that matter is for  

the sake of this video let's use the dictionary  definition socialism is a political and economic  

theory of social organization which Advocates that  the means of production distribution and exchange  

should be owned or regulated by the community as  a whole but this definition in my opinion does a  

bad job at covering just how diverse socialist  beliefs are socialism today seems to be more of  

an umbrella term with many offshoots than it is  a dogmatic Doctrine under the Socialist umbrella  

we have vast ideologies ranging from democratic  socialism libertarian socialism Market socialism  

Marxism-leninism anarcho syndicalism trotskyism  and a lot more to really Drive home how different  

some of these ideologies are from one another we  can look at two socialists from different schools  

of thought Joseph Stalin from the Soviet Union  you might have heard of him who by the way is  

considered a state capitalist by some but for  the sake of argument we can refer to him as an  

authoritarian socialist or communist and Salvador  Allende of Chile a Democratic Socialist both of  

these men and their regimes boast the Socialist  label yet produced very different outcomes Allende  

was able to lower inflation raise real wages  for the working class improve literacy rates  

and much more up until he was killed in a coup in  1973 Stalin on the other hand well he Stalined he  

did he did some not so chill [ __ ] I say all of  this to say when Jordan Peterson makes a reductive  

claim like there are no socialist intellectuals  are we really to believe that not a single person  

from any of these schools of thought under the  Socialist umbrella was an intellectual no and  

I can prove that Jordan Peterson does not think  so either this is Jordan's recommended literature  

page on his website and for a man who does not  think highly of the intellectual abilities of  

the Socialist you would think that the first  three books on his recommended literature  

page would not be written by socialists Ernest  Hemingway was a socialist George Orwell remember  

him we just talked about him not too long ago  appears multiple times in Peterson's list and  

is a Democratic Socialist and I know that Jordan  knows this about Orwell because he's admitted it  

multiple times he's actually said that Orwell was  both influential to him and a socialist in like  

the span of 10 seconds and so he wrote this book  called Road to Wigan Pier which I would highly  

recommend it's on a reading list I made it's on  my website you can check that out those are books  

that have been particularly influential to me and  so Orwell was a socialist I became aware of how  

prescient George Orwell was with regards to the  dangers of totalitarian he was one of the first  

intellectuals in the west there are no great  socialist intellectuals by definition one of  

the first intellectuals Peterson can also be  seen in a video reading Harrison Bergeron by  

Kurt Vonnegut I'm going to read a short story by  Kurt Vonnegut Jr called Harrison Bergeron Vonnegut  

is my personal favorite author I have everything  he's ever written and this pillow with some book  

covers on it I'm a huge Vonnegut Stan I love  the dude I I really like him so to see Jordan  

use Harrison Bergeron a story about revisionism  authoritarianism and the suppression of individual  

skills to imply that Kurt was an anti-leftist or  anti-socialist author is highly dishonest Kurt was  

anti-authoritarian but he wrote extensively about  his admiration for Democratic socialism he's even  

gone as far as naming the protagonist in his  novel Hocus Pocus after Eugene Debs Debs was  

an influential American Socialist who was jailed  for opposing the draft for the first world war yet  

managed to secure almost a million votes for the  Socialist Party from prison without ever hitting  

the campaign Trail kind of badass I I'll give it  to him he was a cool guy Vonnegut greatly admired  

Debs and what he stood for if you've read Kurt's  Works namely his Memoir a man without a country  

it becomes abundantly clear where his sympathies  lie I say all of this to say I'm sure you could  

imagine my surprise when I saw the comment section  of the video where Peterson is reading Vonnegut's  

story and found people claiming that Vonnegut was  anti-socialist don't get me wrong I can understand  

why someone would read Harrison Bergeron a story  about handicapping individual strengths to create  

a more Equitable society and immediately think  about the authoritarian communist regimes of old  

but again this fails to take into consideration  the many anti-authoritarian offshoots of  

socialist thought for some intellectuals in the  anti-authoritarian left equality isn't necessarily  

the main focus at all typically the emphasis is  placed on freedom and adjusting the proximity  

between the worker and the means of production the  lessening of inequality is seen as a downstream  

positive consequence when we think about the  negative effects of capitalism or countries  

ravaged by it thinkers like Jordan Peterson will  say that's not capitalism that's corporatism  

actually I just heard his boss Ben Shapiro used  this line like a few days ago not too long ago  

which is corporatism it is not capitalism and  then when that system inevitably falls on its face  

capitalism gets blamed I don't know if Ben means  to be using the word corporatism here a lot of the  

time when people use corporatism they mean to be  using the word corporatocracy which refers to a  

political system dominated by corporate interest  corporatism on the other hand isn't necessarily  

as malevolent it advocates for a system where  corporate groups and different economic sectors  

such as agriculture labor or Guild associations  come together and negotiate contracts or policy  

based on their common interest in theory this is  not meant to produce wildly disparate outcomes  

and is predicated on good faith negotiations and  genuinely looking out for one another in theory  

anyway I might just be being pedantic back to the  video it got really sunny it's nice now regardless  

capitalists don't seem to have a problem brushing  off the failures of capitalism as actually being  

the failures of corporatocracy yet one modern-day  socialists claim that the failures of past  

authoritarian Communist States are actually due  to State capitalism or authoritarianism those same  

capitalists no longer accept that line of logic I  know this is supposed to be a video about Jordan  

so I digress sorry back to his socialist riddled  recommended literature blog so we've already  

established that the first three authors on this  page are socialists so let's see who's fourth Leo  

Tolstoy Tolstoy although not considering himself  a socialist due to his belief that the state could  

not bring about a true socialist society actually  opposed all forms of hierarchy he was an anarchist  

and for those familiar with where anarchists  are situated on the frankly rudimentary and  

outdated political Spectrum they're far left  in addition to not being a socialist Tolstoy  

was vehemently anti- capitalist so so far we  have three books written by socialists and one  

written by an anarchist you're recommending a good  amount of leftist authors Jordan next on the list  

is Dostoyevsky who influenced Peterson quite a  bit and is an author who I think is incredible  

but Fyodor Dostoyevsky was not a socialist well  he was in his youth then there was this whole  

imprisonment mock execution thingy and he came  out the other end anti-socialist it's it's an  

interesting story and he wrote phenomenal  books for the sake of brevity I will list  

out the remaining leftist authors on Jordan's  recommended book list instead of going one by  

one it's important to note that since there are so  many different schools of socialist Anarchist and  

leftist thought as I've already stated many times  and as we've seen with Tolstoy I'll just use the  

term leftist to Encompass any author holding  anti- capitalist sentiment Huxley who appears  

here multiple times Hemingway again Steinbeck who  appears here multiple times Hunter S Thompson this  

one's interesting because he was always thought  of as being a Libertarian gun lover which by  

the way is not incompatible with socialism but in  reality he was a Che Guevera loving left-leaning  

dude William Golding and more Orwell I think I'm  just going to stop counting here cuz I feel like  

I'm beating a dead horse I don't think you  need me to list out all of the leftists on  

anti-leftist Jordan Peterson's recommended book  list now I'm not here to argue that since Jordan  

enjoyed a book or two from someone he disagreed  with politically that makes him some sort of  

a hypocrite that's not at all what I'm saying I  love Dostoyevsky's and Yukio Mishima's books and  

I would definitely disagree with them on a great  many political issues who cares the issue here  

is that these are books that Jordan has openly  stated influenced him so much so that he feels  

that they are critical works of literature and  everyone should read them for Jordan Peterson  

to make a statement like the one he tweeted and  then have an entire recommended literature page  

on his website riddled with leftists shows a  great deal of intellectual immaturity on his  

part again this video is not meant to convince  anyone to embrace socialism capitalism theocracy  

liberalism or any other ism it's just here to show  how Jordan Peterson in his blinding hatred of the  

opposition willfully throws out reductionist  takes that he himself doesn't seem to believe  

and he looks like a fool because of it that's all  I wanted to say sorry if this video is random and  

like many years too late because I just started  a you YouTube Channel and I always wanted to talk  

about this anyways bye thanks for watching oh  and subscribe if you if you if you don't mind