Lecture: 2017 Maps of Meaning 01: Context and Background

Jordan B. Peterson discusses the context within which the theory he was delineating through this course emerge: that of the cold war. What is belief? Why is it so important to people? Why will they fight to protect it? Full description.

In this lecture, Jordan B. Peterson discusses the context within which the theory he was delineating through this course emerge: that of the cold war.

What is belief? Why is it so important to people? Why will they fight to protect it? Peterson proposes that belief unites a culture’s expectations and desires with the actions of its people, and that the match between those two allows for cooperative action and maintains emotional stability.

Peterson suggests, further, that culture has a deep narrative structure, presenting the world as a forum for action, with characters representing the individual, the known, and the unknown — or the individual, culture and nature — or the individual, order and chaos.

Originally published on Jan 16, 2017.

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