30 NOV 2021
(Page 104-111; Rule 4)
I think Peterson is trying to say that in order to avoid nihilistic thoughts or "bad" thoughts take over you, you must stop thinking. He emphasizes that by stop thinking, he doesn't mean that you should be stupid, but rather means that you should stop self-rationalizing, dissimulating, or putting this faith of existence under the umbrella of your rationality. Instead, your faith of good-will should be overarching your rationality so that you make honest choices that help you aim for a better tomorrow.
I really tried thinking about the Old Testament and New Testament analogy, and I am honestly not sure if I am grasping his intentions properly; but this is what I've understood so far:
In order to stop nihilism and to justify existence, you should have an understanding that God from the Old Testament and New Testament are the same Being. This might sound absurd, but it makes sense once it is reminded to you that God from the Old Testament used punishment as a tool to encourage goodness and God from the New Testament was the all-embracing and lenient God of Love. By putting these two gods into One, this signifies that you are admitting to the fact that existence might be justified by its goodness. What does that mean? I interpreted it this way: You should aim to be "good" (relative to your own scale that somewhat aligns with that constructed by society), and "better" tomorrow, the next day, next month, next year, and in the future. Always aiming high (but low enough so you don't put yourself back to point-zero), while taking things slowly one by one, at your own pace. The analogy therefore indicates that having these realistic goals that are aimed to "better" your life fills your life with meaning and shows that by being diligent and good, you can overcome your past of indolence or sorrow.
Honestly, it kind of feels like Peterson is targeting the nihilistic audience more than people like me who does find meaning in life. Although, his text does make me reconsider whether the true meaning of life is truly success. Should it be more about the goodness that the Bible inculcates? Or can goodness be subjective and just its existence justifies existence itself.
Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today (pg 11)
(Page 122; Rule 5)
First time reading about Unit 731. I never thought humans could be so primal and even satanic. Peterson mentions study cases about chimpanzees being phlegmatic to the point that they would resort to violence (stripping away skins of other chimps or ripping their appendages into pieces etc.), and the parallel between the two mentioned cases really does shock me. Unit 731 makes the Holocaust look like child-play. I'm utterly shocked and truly disgusted.
(Page 131; Rule 5)
Negative emotions, like their positive counterparts, help us learn. Pain is more potent than pleasure, and anxiety more than hope.
6 DEC 2021
(Page 158; Rule 6)
Set your house in perfect order before your criticize the world; Do only those things that you could speak with honor; Don't blame capitalism, the radical left, or the iniquity of your enemies.
The more I read about Peterson, the more I realize we share a lot of values. I feel like there are too many people blaming the society or blaming a certain social structure for their own failure. But there are so many examples of people who go through the same social tunnel and end up standing straight and strong. Blaming certain structures or external factors is a sign of weakness, and people should take responsibility of their own deeds. Although, I feel like I'm being blind at the same time as I write this. Unfortunate demographics (homeless without their volition) might have a certain degree of truth in their reproofs because of the high barriers to entry: to get their lives back up and running. I'm not sure whether I should be feeling commiserate or if I should be a doctrinaire and just stick with my initial thoughts. ⇒ To what extent can "blame" be justified?