Jordan Peterson on Individualism

From Jordan B. Petersons 12 principles for a 21st century conservatism:

[Ruairoquai]

It's intensely irritating how many people in this comment section think Individualism is synonymous with isolationism.

[gilbertodelavega]

Individualism all the way! Individual rights and freedoms are the cornerstone to any modern, civilized society!

[alexalexides]

Our history, in the West, IS to balance the fine line between the individual and the community, Peterson's notions are all postmodern instead of pre-modern and this is the issue. It's not right or left, it's healthy society vs. people being told to make it on their own and be abandoned by society, it's the balance that gives us rights.

[newrunrocks]

Apparently unpopular opinion, I’m an individualist

[Tubeytime]

I didn't realize I was holding my breath until it ended

[Psych]

I believe both should be implemented into our society. How can we benefit the society or the group without ignoring the individual. I think a problem in our society is that we often believe we have to be all in in one ideology or not at all.

[abdulazizhawsah]

Nothing worse than being radical about it, just find balance between the two.

[ericjiang]

JP you are wrong about individual identity: black, latino, white, etc.. They are still group identity, black group, latino group, etc.. It is just subgroup, we human can never escape groups truly.

[robertmusil]

I agree with him on this one...one of the reasons I'm moving out of India is so that I can escape this 'Log kya kahenge'(What will people think) BS

[westsideisdabest]

Collectivism takes away any sort of agency we have as individual beings, what right does anyone else have to tell me how to live my life? Especially when life is inherently a subjective experience?

[mecapoonslayer]

I agree completely. Personally I consider my self an individualist and hate all forms of collectivism.

[adibahmed]

I get his point, being able to think for yourself is crucial for any civilization to function properly. But being individualistic is ultimately a very self centered "everyone for themselves" mentality which in my opinion isn't very civil at all. If you litter everywhere you go because your bag is full of trash and you need that extra space to store more food to survive, that's everyone for themselves. I prefer to think in a way that makes me less of a burden to the overall community. Sort of like leaving things like I've found them and not making a mess that's going to make life for someone else worse. That's what Japan runs by and it's going pretty great for them. Most people are civil, you can still express your opinion obviously and there's next to no trash on the streets. Of course, there are plenty of Cons to Japan as well like social pressure from society to not stand out and shut up. That doesn't really help if you have to think freely. But then again, that isn't forbidden. You can totally communicate new ideas and people might actually listen and pay respect, as long as you pay respect to them as human beings as well.

[vphiameradisogaarwa]

The Roman's did this individualism thing very well. And despite what Mr. Peterson says, imperialism and its long shadow has impacted the world in many ways, including making many countries inoperable while allowing America to remain unscathed by the forces unleashed by the historical trends surrounding imperialism's advancement.

[gee_]

Individualism is a coping mechanism for being severed from the group, but the need to belong is very strong and ultimately these individuals end up forming a new collective eg America. Now there are new individuals who feel oppressed by this new collective. As long as people operate at the level of ego (I as an individual separate from all others) this cycle will keep repeating.

[fenrir]

It's funny how he praises the individual but chastises people for incorporating ethnicity, sensuality, culture, religion, or collective history as an aspect of their individuality. As if all individuals have to conform to one type of individualism, some blank slate out in vacuum, detached from experience and historical memory. You're an individual damn, now stop worrying about all the various aspects that make you am individual and just be the individual I Jordan Peterson have envisioned for you. How collectivist.

[tormentedterror]

If individualism is not achieved, the world gravitates towards death and destruction.

[Dhua_diary]

Reasons why I like Western Civilization

[harrydennis]

I used to support individualism of the kind that Peterson and co embrace, but now I see it is very undesirable. Of course individualism in the sense of being yourself and strengthening yourself is desired, but we must keep away from this autistic idea that we should drop the part of our identity that is fixed. Collectivising with your fellow countrymen based on a spiritual and physical bond does not prevent the existence of unique characters within that collective. Yes we all are individuals in the sense that we all have different personalities, but this does not contradict the fixed parts of our identity such as ethnicity/race and the physical and spiritual attributes around these. We wouldn't have great cultures without a collective spirit, and now as man descends into atomised individualism we see the degeneration of society whereby neo-liberal capitalism and social egalitarianism breaks man down into a weak, grey consumerist blob.

[Anekantavad]

He prattles on about 'individualism', then spends all his time talking about "us" and "we".

A nation is a herd.

[davedavis]

Military always ranks the highest in public trust and congress and media lowest. One is based on hierarchy and merit (nationalism) the other about appeasing peoples base instincts (democracy). liberalism is Totalitarian individualism. Capitalists like that because both gov leaders and industry dont want to be responsible for thier decisions and impact on the community.