The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast – 359. Separating Good from Evil in the British Empire | Dr. Nigel Biggar

Intro

In this episode of “The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast,” Dr. Nigel Biggar joins Jordan Peterson to discuss the ethics of the Colonial Enterprise and the separation of good from evil in the British Empire. They delve into the reality and falsehood of privilege, the impact of cancel culture, and the journey of researching and writing Dr. Biggar’s book, “Colonialism, a Moral Reckoning.” This thought-provoking conversation explores the complexities of historical analysis and the backlash faced by those who challenge prevailing views on British imperial history.

Main Takeaways

Examining the Ethics of the Colonial Enterprise

• Dr. Nigel Biggar discusses the ethics of the Colonial Enterprise
• The British Empire was primarily driven by trade and making money
• The motives behind the British Empire varied, some good and some bad
• The empire was not essentially racist or exploitative, and there were growing humanitarian and liberal political strands in the 1800s
• Power can be a good thing, and in the case of abolishing slavery, Britain used its imperial power for humanitarian purposes

Separating Good from Evil in Historical Analysis

• Talks about the separation of good from evil in the process of historical analysis
• Examines the reality and falsehood of the idea of privilege
• Explores the purposeful and pointless miseries of cancel culture
• Shares his journey of researching and writing his book “Colonialism, a Moral Reckoning” and the backlash he faced for his views on British imperial history
• Ethicists have a sense of responsibility to be honest and morally bound to expose themselves to criticism

Understanding the Impact of Mobbing and Isolation

• Mobbing is a stunningly effective tactic from a psychological perspective
• Collaboration between Dr. Darwin and the speaker had been congenial until Dr. Darwin’s sudden abandonment of the project
• People can be shunned and isolated like infectious pathogens when they are treated with contempt and derision
• Derision and disgust are more toxic emotions than fear because they destroy things that are pathogens
• People who are shunned are treated as if they are infectious pathogens and are essentially thrown into the same category

Exploring Personal Virtue and the Pursuit of Truth

• Being scrupulously just and constructing arguments in the strongest possible form can help dismantle biases
• It’s important to put enough of the inquiry process into the work itself so readers can follow along and double-check for themselves
• The goal of university education is to subject one’s own thoughts to a multiplicity of critical perspectives
• The point of life is to bear witness to the truth as one sees it
• The Christian set of images and stories calls out admiration and instinct to emulate the combination of masculine capacity and caring for what is vulnerable

Examining the British Empire and Abolition of Slavery

• The British Empire was not driven primarily by greed and the lust to dominate, but rather by various reasons that were ad hoc in response to circumstance
• The beginnings of the British Empire were anti-imperialist
• The British Empire was not just about conquest, but also negotiation and making treaties with native peoples
• Slavery is a ubiquitous feature of human societies, but the conscious realization that slavery itself is intrinsically wrong emerged with great difficulty and manifested itself most profoundly in the UK
• The empire and those humanitarians who were lobbying for the imperial power to be used to press slavery were the progressive people of their days

Summary

Examining the Ethics of the Colonial Enterprise

Dr. Nigel Biggar engages in a deep exploration of the ethics surrounding the British Empire’s colonial enterprise. He highlights the varied motives behind the empire, emphasizing that it was primarily driven by trade and economic interests rather than a singular lust for power. Biggar challenges the prevailing notion that the empire was inherently racist and exploitative, pointing to the growing humanitarian and liberal political strands within the empire during the 1800s. He also discusses the role of power in the abolition of slavery, showcasing how Britain used its imperial power for humanitarian purposes.

Separating Good from Evil in Historical Analysis

Biggar delves into the challenges of separating good from evil in the process of historical analysis. He examines the reality and falsehood of privilege, shedding light on the complexities of cancel culture and the purposeful and pointless miseries it can create. Drawing from his own experience researching and writing his book, “Colonialism, a Moral Reckoning,” Biggar shares the backlash he faced for his views on British imperial history. He emphasizes the importance of ethicists being honest and morally bound to expose themselves to criticism, fostering a deeper understanding of historical events.

Understanding the Impact of Mobbing and Isolation

Biggar explores the psychological tactics of mobbing and the isolation experienced by those who challenge prevailing views. He shares his personal experience of collaboration with Dr. Darwin, highlighting the congeniality until Dr. Darwin abruptly withdrew from the project due to facing opposition. Biggar emphasizes the stunning effectiveness of mobbing as a psychological tactic, explaining how people can be shunned and isolated like infectious pathogens when they are treated with contempt and derision. He discusses the toxic emotions of derision and disgust, which can destroy relationships and hinder productive dialogue.

Exploring Personal Virtue and the Pursuit of Truth

Biggar delves into the importance of personal virtue in the pursuit of truth. He emphasizes the need to be scrupulously just and construct arguments in the strongest possible form to dismantle biases. Biggar highlights the goal of university education, which is to subject one’s own thoughts to a multiplicity of critical perspectives. He discusses the role of Christianity in his own journey, calling out admiration and the instinct to emulate the combination of masculine capacity and caring for what is vulnerable. Biggar encourages individuals to bear witness to the truth as they see it and engage in self-examination to think straight.

Examining the British Empire and Abolition of Slavery

Biggar offers a nuanced examination of the British Empire and its relationship with slavery. He challenges the oversimplification of colonialism and slavery as synonymous, highlighting that British colonialism was anti-slavery during the latter half of its existence. Biggar emphasizes the conscious realization that slavery itself is intrinsically wrong emerged with great difficulty and manifested most profoundly in the UK. He discusses the role of the empire and humanitarians in pressing for the abolition of slavery, showcasing how power can be used for humanitarian purposes. Biggar highlights the importance of recognizing the complexities and varied motivations behind historical events.

Conclusion

Dr. Nigel Biggar’s conversation with Jordan Peterson provides a thought-provoking exploration of the ethics of the Colonial Enterprise and the challenges of historical analysis. They delve into the motives behind the British Empire, the impact of cancel culture, and the importance of personal virtue in the pursuit of truth. Biggar’s insights shed light on the complexities of British imperial history and challenge prevailing narratives. Despite facing backlash, Biggar’s book, “Colonialism, a Moral Reckoning,” has garnered significant attention, highlighting the public’s appetite for thoughtful consideration of contentious issues.