Jordan Peterson - How To Outsmart Everybody Else

Summary

The speaker passionately argues for the importance of teaching writing as a fundamental skill, equating it with thinking and effective action in the world. They express astonishment that universities do not emphasize the power of writing as a tool for success and influence. The transcript also highlights the necessity of clear communication and articulate argumentation, using the metaphor of a pencil factory to illustrate the point that without the ability to organize and articulate ideas, all resources are useless. The speaker urges the recognition of writing as a powerful weapon and a key to unlocking opportunities and influence.

Takeaways

• 📝 Teaching people to write is crucial because it is synonymous with teaching them to think.
• 💡 Writing is important not just for grades, but because it helps you think clearly and act effectively in the world.
• ⚔️ Being able to think, speak, and write makes you formidable and capable of winning battles for good causes.
• 🏫 Universities often fail to explain to students the true purpose of writing, which is to develop clear thinking and effective communication.
• 💬 Articulate individuals are powerful; they can present their points effectively and influence others.
• 🏆 Success is often tied to one's ability to communicate well; those who can write and speak clearly often achieve great things.
• 🔧 Without the skill of assembling and presenting ideas, even the best resources remain underutilized.
• 💰 Effective communication skills can attract opportunities, funding, and influence.
• 🎓 University education should focus on teaching students to be articulate, as it is a key to personal and professional success.
• ❓ It is puzzling why the importance of writing and clear communication is not made self-evident in educational systems.

Q & A

What is the main argument presented in the transcript about the importance of teaching people to write?

The main argument is that teaching people to write is crucial because it is synonymous with teaching them to think. Writing helps individuals to act effectively in the world and win battles for good causes.

Why does the speaker believe that writing is like a powerful weapon?

The speaker believes writing is a powerful weapon because it enables individuals to articulate their thoughts and arguments coherently, which can lead to success in various aspects of life.

According to the transcript, what is the speaker's view on the role of writing in education?

The speaker criticizes the education system for not emphasizing the importance of writing as a tool for learning to think. They argue that students should be taught why they should write, not just how to write for grades.

What analogy does the speaker use to describe the importance of having the ability to write well?

The speaker uses the analogy of a pencil factory to illustrate that without the ability to write (assemble the pencils), all the machinery and raw materials are useless.

Why does the speaker think that being articulate is dangerous?

The speaker considers being articulate as dangerous because it gives individuals the power to influence others, secure opportunities, and effectively communicate their points, which can be a formidable force.

What does the speaker suggest about the purpose of university education in relation to writing?

The speaker suggests that the purpose of university education should be to teach students to be articulate and to use writing as a means to think and act effectively in the world.

How does the speaker describe the potential of someone who can think, speak, and write well?

The speaker describes such a person as 'absolutely deadly' because they can navigate through life effectively, win arguments, and achieve their goals with ease.

What is the speaker's opinion about the lack of emphasis on the importance of writing in universities?

The speaker is perplexed and frustrated by the lack of emphasis on the importance of writing in universities, suggesting that it should be made self-evident to students.

What does the speaker imply about the potential consequences of not being able to articulate one's thoughts effectively?

The speaker implies that if one cannot articulate their thoughts effectively, they may appear foolish and fail to achieve their goals or make their point.

What is the speaker's view on the relationship between writing and success in life?

The speaker views writing as a fundamental skill that can lead to success in life, as it is tied to the ability to think and communicate effectively.

What does the speaker suggest could be the reason behind the lack of emphasis on writing in education?

The speaker suggests that there might be a conspiracy to keep people less educated to maintain the status quo and reduce competition, or to keep students from challenging authority.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Power of Writing and Thinking

The speaker emphasizes the importance of teaching writing skills as it is synonymous with learning to think. They express astonishment that universities do not explain to students the true purpose of writing assignments, which is to develop critical thinking abilities. The speaker argues that effective thinking is essential for success in life and can be a powerful tool in achieving goals. They use the analogy of a pencil factory to illustrate that without the ability to communicate and articulate ideas, all the resources in the world are useless. The speaker also highlights the significance of being able to formulate coherent arguments and present them persuasively, which can lead to financial support and opportunities.

Keywords

💡teach

Teaching is the act of imparting knowledge, skills, or values to another person. In the video's context, it emphasizes the importance of teaching people to write as a fundamental skill that enhances thinking. The script suggests that teaching writing is not just about assignments but about equipping individuals with the ability to think and act effectively in the world.

💡writing

Writing is the process of using written symbols to communicate thoughts and ideas. The video script highlights writing as a critical tool for thinking and argues that it is synonymous with thinking. It is presented as a means to articulate one's thoughts coherently, which is essential for success in various aspects of life.

💡thinking

Thinking refers to the mental process of considering something carefully, typically in order to make a decision or solve a problem. The script posits that thinking is the foundation for effective action and winning battles, whether literal or metaphorical. It is the ability to formulate and organize thoughts, which is crucial for success.

💡university

A university is an institution of higher learning that provides facilities for teaching and research. The script criticizes universities for not adequately explaining the purpose of writing assignments, suggesting that they should emphasize the development of critical thinking skills rather than just academic grades.

💡effectively

To act effectively means to do something in a successful or efficient manner. The video script uses this term to describe the outcome of good thinking and writing skills, implying that these abilities enable individuals to succeed in their endeavors and to make a positive impact in the world.

💡argument

An argument is a set of statements, one of which is called the conclusion, for which the others, the premises, are intended to provide support. The script discusses the importance of being able to construct and present arguments coherently, which is a skill that can be honed through writing and critical thinking.

💡articulate

To be articulate means to express oneself clearly and effectively. The video emphasizes the importance of teaching people to be articulate, as this ability can be a powerful tool for communication and persuasion, which is essential for gaining influence and opportunities.

💡influence

Influence refers to the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself. The script suggests that being able to articulate one's thoughts and ideas can lead to having influence over others, which can result in obtaining resources and opportunities.

💡pencil factory

The pencil factory is used metaphorically in the script to illustrate the importance of the human element in production and creativity. It emphasizes that without people to assemble the pencils, all the machinery and raw materials would be useless, highlighting the value of human skills and abilities.

💡coherent

Coherent means expressing a clear, logical, and consistent argument or set of ideas. The script stresses the importance of coherence in writing and speaking, as it is a sign of well-organized thoughts and can be persuasive to others.

💡mystery

A mystery is something that is difficult to understand or explain. In the context of the video, the term is used to express the speaker's confusion and frustration over why the importance of writing and thinking is not made evident to students, suggesting that it should be a clear and self-evident truth.

Highlights

Teaching people to write is equivalent to teaching them to think.

Universities often fail to explain to students why writing is important beyond grades.

Writing helps individuals learn to think, which is crucial for effective action in the world.

Thinking, speaking, and writing effectively makes a person unstoppable.

Writing is described as the most powerful weapon one can possess.

Successful people often possess strong argumentation skills, making them formidable in discussions.

A pencil factory without workers to assemble pencils is just a pile of raw materials.

The ability to formulate arguments and present them coherently can lead to opportunities and influence.

The purpose of university education is to develop articulation and communication skills.

Being articulate is described as the most dangerous and powerful trait one can have.

Learning to write effectively is likened to being equipped with powerful tools and weapons.

There is frustration over why the importance of writing and thinking isn't made self-evident in education.

There's a perceived conspiracy to weaken students by not teaching them critical skills, keeping competition down.

If students lack critical thinking skills, they are less likely to challenge educators.

The speaker's aim is to motivate students by highlighting the real-world benefits of learning to write.

Transcripts

the best thing you can do is teach

people to write

because there's no difference between

that and thinking and one of the things

that just blows me away about

universities

is that no one ever tells students why

they should write something

it's like well you have to do this

assignment well why are you writing

well you need the grade it's like no you

need to learn to

think because thinking makes you act

effectively in the world thinking makes

you win the battles you undertake and

those could be battles for good things

if you can think and speak and write you

are absolutely

deadly nothing can get in your way

so that's why you learn to write it's

like

when i can't believe that people aren't

just told that it's it's it's like

it's the most powerful weapon you could

possibly provide someone with

and i mean i know lots of people who've

been staggeringly successful

and watched them throughout my life i

mean those people you don't want to have

an argument with them they'll just slash

you into pieces

and not in a malevolent way it's like if

you're going to make your point and

they're going to make their point

you better have your points organized

because otherwise you're going to look

like and be an absolute idiot

you are not going to get anywhere so

let's say you own a pencil factory i'm a

worker in that pencil factory

you can have all the machinery all you

can buy all the raw materials you want

but without me

and presumably many others like me to

assemble the pencils

all you would have is a pile of wood

yellow paint graphite rubber what do you

think put more in the you spend millions

of dollars

buying all the machinery leasing the

place making sure there was a management

structure

doing the llc formation making sure all

the tax code was in compliance

or you standing outside because you can

stick a piece of graphite into a piece

of wood

[Applause]

if you can formulate your arguments

coherently and make a presentation if

you can speak to people

if you can lay out a proposal god people

give you money

they give you opportunities you have

influence

that's what you're at university for so

that's what you do is you that's you're

in you're in english right you're

and yeah new languages anyways it's like

yeah

teach people to be articulate because

that's the most

dangerous thing you can possibly be so

and that's motivating if people know

that it's like well why are you

learning to write because you're here's

your sword here's your m16 right here's

your bulletproof vest

like you learn how to use them

but

ah it's just it's an endless mystery to

me why

that isn't made self-evident

so that's the sort of thing that can

drive you mad trying to sort out

so i pretend to teach and you pretend to

learn

it's like people are there's a there's a

conspiracy to bring people into the

education system to make them

weaker so

i guess that keeps the competition down

maybe that's one way of thinking about

it if your students are stupid they're

not going to challenge you

[Music]

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