The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast – 367. You Might Already Be A Member | Dr. James Lindsay

Intro

In this episode of “The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast,” Dr. Jordan Peterson interviews Dr. James Lindsay about Marxism and its evolution into various sub-doctrines such as critical race theory and queer theory. They discuss the theological roots of these sub-doctrines and how they are used to justify the acquisition of power. Dr. Lindsay shares his experiences speaking at the EU Parliament and a center-right European party, where he argued that “woke” ideology is a form of Marxism that attacks the West. They delve into the relationship between postmodernism and neo-Marxism, the concept of power and oppression in social interactions, and the battle between Cain and Abel as a reflection of the ideological struggles in today’s society.

Main Takeaways

Marxism and its Sub-Doctrines

• Dr. James Lindsay discusses Marxism and its evolution into various sub-doctrines such as critical race theory and queer theory.
• These sub-doctrines trace back to the theological realm and are used to justify the acquisition of power.

Speaking Engagements and Viral Speech

• Dr. Lindsay has been speaking all over the world, mostly with grassroots organizations, to try to effect change.
• He spoke at the EU Parliament and was well-received despite the language barrier.
• Dr. Lindsay spoke at a center-right European party called Identity Democracy Foundation and received positive feedback from attendees, including a student group.
• His speech at the EU on the topic of “what is woke and what does it mean for Europe?” went viral and is still popular.

Postmodernism, Neo-Marxism, and Power Dynamics

• Dr. Lindsay argued that “woke” is a form of Marxism that has evolved to attack the West, using techniques reminiscent of Mao’s cultural revolution.
• He believes that postmodernism and neo-Marxism are related, as postmodernists themselves say their intellectual effort is an extension of Marxism.
• These theories evolve through dialectical critique, where each new derivative must critique the thing that came before it.
• Postmodernists are skeptical of meta-narratives, which could lead to skepticism of Marxism as a grand meta-narrative.
• Postmodernists specialize in incoherence and chaos, which can be effective in creating discord.

The Battle between Cain and Abel and the Theological Architecture of Power

• The battle between Cain and Abel is an extension of the bitterness and resentment seen in the system of ideas that’s playing out today.
• Philosopher Eric Fogland named Marx as anosteic, which means that the concept of power and domination is fundamentally theological architecture.
• The concept of power and domination is fundamentally theological architecture.
• The battle between Cain and Abel is the fundamental battle that rages in the human heart.
• Marxism can be seen as a continuation of the Cain and Abel narrative.

The Pedagogy of Discomfort and the Hoax Papers

• The speaker had a realization that the pedagogy of discomfort can lead to harm and manipulation of students.
• The speaker and their team wrote fake academic articles for feminist theory and gender studies journals to see how many would get published.
• They wrote 20 papers, 7 were accepted and 7 were under peer review, proving that some of these journals lack rigorous standards.

Summary

Marxism and its Sub-Doctrines

Dr. James Lindsay discusses the evolution of Marxism into sub-doctrines such as critical race theory and queer theory. These sub-doctrines have theological roots and are used to justify the acquisition of power.

Speaking Engagements and Viral Speech

Dr. Lindsay shares his experiences speaking at the EU Parliament and a center-right European party. His speech on “what is woke and what does it mean for Europe?” went viral and received positive feedback. Despite the language barrier, Dr. Lindsay was well-received at these events.

Postmodernism, Neo-Marxism, and Power Dynamics

Dr. Lindsay argues that “woke” ideology is a form of Marxism that has evolved to attack the West. He explores the relationship between postmodernism and neo-Marxism, highlighting the skepticism of meta-narratives and the use of incoherence and chaos to create discord.

The Battle between Cain and Abel and the Theological Architecture of Power

Dr. Lindsay connects the ideological struggles in today’s society to the biblical story of Cain and Abel. He discusses the theological architecture of power and how Marxism can be seen as a continuation of the Cain and Abel narrative.

The Pedagogy of Discomfort and the Hoax Papers

Dr. Lindsay reflects on the harm and manipulation that can arise from the pedagogy of discomfort in education. He shares his experience writing fake academic articles to expose the lack of rigorous standards in certain fields.

Conclusion

Dr. James Lindsay provides insightful analysis on the evolution of Marxism, the power dynamics at play in sub-doctrines like critical race theory, and the theological underpinnings of these ideologies. He emphasizes the importance of speaking up and questioning prevailing narratives, while also cautioning against becoming monstrous in the process. This thought-provoking conversation sheds light on the complex interplay between ideology, power, and the human condition.