{"id":36985,"date":"2024-03-21T20:15:33","date_gmt":"2024-03-22T03:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=36985"},"modified":"2024-03-21T20:15:33","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T03:15:33","slug":"misleading-maps-of-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/misleading-maps-of-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Misleading Maps of Meaning?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cCritical thinkers have an abiding interest in the problematic aspects of their own thinking, and they seek out these problem areas, target them, and change something about their thinking in order to reason more rationally, logically, and justifiably.\u201d1 <\/sup><\/p>\n

Thanks to this program and blogging every week, I am slowly, painfully, and finally learning how to embrace critical thinking. Therefore, I have been waiting for a few months to actually be more critical of a book, instead of buying into most of the author\u2019s premise. Since Maps of Meaning<\/em> by Jordan Peterson is undoubtedly a challenging read due to its complex subject matter, I have decided to take the critical approach to this insightful book. After reading the first two paragraphs, I thought, \u201cWhoa, I\u2019m in trouble.\u201d For me it was a tough read, and I was very grateful for when he mentioned science and psychology throughout his writing because these subjects helped me to understand the book a little better.<\/p>\n

Peterson argues that human cognition is deeply rooted in our evolutionary past, where our ancestors grappled with the chaotic forces of nature and developed intricate belief systems to impose order and meaning onto their surroundings. He delves into the psychological significance of myths and symbols, illustrating how they serve as maps for navigating the complexities of existence and providing individuals with a sense of purpose and direction. After reading a few pages I was easily reminded of Joseph Campbell\u2019s book, The Hero With A Thousand Faces. <\/em>In this book Campbell writes, \u201cThe purpose of the present book is to uncover some of the truths disguised for us under the figures of religion and mythology by bringing together a multitude of not-too-difficult examples…\u201d2 <\/sup>A few of Campbell\u2019s examples are symbols, psychology, religion, myths, heroes, and mother earth. All quite similar to Peterson\u2019s book.<\/p>\n

Since this was a tough read it was actually easier to be more critical of the book. But I also thought, \u201cThis is a very intelligent man writing a masterful work and I am going to attempt to be critical of his years of research, insight, and thinking?\u201d Yeah, I\u2019m laughing too. But here are three areas where my weak critical thinking is justified.<\/p>\n

Peterson believes archetypal myths are universal across cultures.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe also presently possess inaccessible and complete form the traditional wisdom of a large part of the human race\u2014possess an accurate description of the myths and rituals that contain and condition the implicit and explicit values of almost everyone who has ever lived.\u201d3 <\/sup>He believes the world has three elements across all cultures.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Great Mother, which is nature, the source and final resting place of all things.<\/li>\n
  2. The Great Father, which is culture, protective and cumulative ancestral wisdom.<\/li>\n
  3. The Divine Son, which is the process mediates between unexplored and explored territory.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Counterexamples to cultural universality are abundant, such as the Pirah\u00e3 people of Brazil who have no creation myths or interest in beliefs that go beyond personal experience.4 <\/sup>The Iroquois people of North America do have myths about creation and other aspects of the world, but they do not follow the Father\/Mother\/Son motif that Peterson thinks is universal.5 <\/sup>Therefore, of the thousands of cultures in the world, Peterson has tapped into only one line of thinking, so his maps of meaning in this area may not be entirely accurate.<\/p>\n

    Peterson believes that myths are the psychological origins of morality.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cMeaning means implication for behavioral output; logically, therefore, myth presents information relevant to the most fundamental of moral problems.\u201d6 <\/sup><\/p>\n

    Billions of people have taken their morality from religion. But there are many exceptions, including:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The system of social morality developed by Confucius more than 2500 years ago, which is still influential in China. It emphasizes family and social harmony instead of spiritual harmony.<\/li>\n
    2. The personal moral systems of around all the people who have no religious affiliation or beliefs.<\/li>\n
    3. The moral views of many philosophers who do not believe in Jehovah God, from David Hume to Daniel Dennett, who have found secular bases for ethics.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Peterson believes religious mythology is the right way to approach moral thinking and acting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \u201cMythic truth is information, derived from past experience\u2014derived from past observation of behavior\u2014relevant from the perspective of fundamental motivation and effect.\u201d7 <\/sup>There are many important philosophers who have proposed secular grounds for morality. Three are:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. David Hume and Adam Smith based morality on sympathy and other moral sentiments, independent of religion.<\/li>\n
      2. Immanuel Kant was religious, but his moral theory was based on rights and duties that he thought could be established by reason alone.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

        In\u00a0Maps of Meaning<\/em>, Jordan Peterson argues that mythology provides a psychological tool that helps us create meaning in a chaotic world. This is true even though he is not as critical with his own premise. Being critical of this book reminds me no matter how much research I have done, I can still be wrong or look at my premise from rose colored glasses. So I wrestle with two questions:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Where am I wrong in my research, findings, and answers regarding my NPO?<\/li>\n
        2. Will I have the courage to mention when I have discovered errors in my research and answers regarding my NPO?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          \n

           <\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Richard Paul and Linda Elder. The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking<\/em>. 7.<\/li>\n
          2. Joseph Campbell. The Hero with a Thousand Faces<\/em>. xii.<\/li>\n
          3. Jordan Peterson. Maps of Meaning<\/em>. 136.<\/li>\n
          4. Daniel Everett. Don\u2019t Sleep, There are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle.<\/em><\/li>\n
          5. Erminnie A Smith. Myths of the Iroquois.<\/em> Retrieved March 21, 2024, from https:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/files\/46140\/46140-h\/46140-h.htm<\/a>.<\/li>\n
          6. Jordan Peterson. Maps of Meaning<\/em>. 13.<\/li>\n
          7. 390.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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            \n

            \n

            \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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            \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            \u201cCritical thinkers have an abiding interest in the problematic aspects of their own thinking, and they seek out these problem areas, target them, and change something about their thinking in order to reason more rationally, logically, and justifiably.\u201d1 Thanks to this program and blogging every week, I am slowly, painfully, and finally learning how to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":176,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2310],"tags":[3154],"class_list":["post-36985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctor-of-leadership-3","tag-peterson-dlgp02","cohort-dlgp02"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/176"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36985"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36986,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36985\/revisions\/36986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}