Who is Dr. Jordan B. Peterson & Why Does The Left Hate Him?

Following the end of last year, a little known University Professor and Clinical Psychologist named Jordan B. Peterson took the mainstream media by storm. After a scathing review published on Canadian Bill C16 about censored speech, a trending interview with Cathy Newman of British Channel 4 News challenging the meaning of the gender wage gap, and his book ‘12 Rules for Life‘ hitting the best seller lists of various reputable sources, Dr. Peterson has made a name for himself. With this increased recognition, he has been labeled one of the greatest intellectuals of the west by supporters, and an angry white male by many of his critics.

He is controversial to say the least; however, when pulling back the veil of  Dr. Peterson’s public image, the ideas he is espousing are not so controversial. In fact, they are for the most part about common sense. Through taking a quick look at some of his rules in ’12 Rules for Life,’ readers find, “Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world,” and “Tell the truth,—or at least don’t lie” amongst the list.

So why do critics detest Dr. Peterson so much?

Critics of Dr. Peterson cannot seem to understand his rise in popularity and are frightened by it, often accusing him of being a misogynist, stoking the alt-right underbelly of the conservative movement. Critics, such as writers for The Guardian and New York Times implore ad hominem and fallacy of composition attacks against Dr. Peterson in hopes of discrediting him.

This has worked to little success.

Much of what has fueled Dr. Peterson’s continued rise, is that an increasing number of people are recognizing a shift in society away from these aforementioned rules and towards what Dr. Peterson collectively calls chaos.

A staunch proponent of individualism, Dr. Peterson’s ‘rules’ are the antithesis to the Postmodernist, Neo-Marxist and collectivist tendencies that are taking root in our society today.

In an environment where identitarian politics and political correctness continue to be rampant, Dr. Peterson pleads with his audience to be wary of these Jacques Derrida and Michel Foucault inspired movements which have infected much of our universities, intelligentsia, and youth.

For Dr. Peterson, this is a matter of life or death for our society. If we continue down this path, we will not be far away from the testimony shared in Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s ‘Gulag Archipelago’ and reliving the atrocities of the communist Twentieth Century.

It is certainly worth listening to Dr. Peterson.

Jack Campbell is an intern at Center of the American Experiment.