{"id":41484,"date":"2025-04-10T08:00:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T15:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=41484"},"modified":"2025-04-08T07:13:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T14:13:29","slug":"order-chaos-and-the-heros-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/order-chaos-and-the-heros-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Order, Chaos, and the Hero’s Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the March 31st<\/sup> Zoom chat, Dr. Clark introduced us to Bloom\u2019s Taxonomy. Bloom\u2019s Taxonomy is a cognitive hierarchy that begins with memorization and sequentially advances through six steps toward creating something new based on what has been previously learned.[1]<\/a> I will summarize Jordan Peterson’s Maps of Meaning<\/em> using Bloom’s Taxonomy.<\/p>\n

Remembering: recognizing and recalling facts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief, <\/em>by Peterson, is a seminal work exploring systems of belief and their role in shaping human societies. The book explains how myths and stories from various cultures share common themes and structures. Peterson argues that myth and religious stories are not just primitive superstitions but are essential frameworks for understanding human psychology and behaviour. These are not contrary to science and psychology but provide a map for navigating the complexities of life and explain how human beings create meaning in life. He writes, \u201cMyth describes things in terms of their unique or shared affective valence, their value, their motivational significance.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

In essence, myth helps us to understand meaning. Meaning, in turn, provides us with an understanding of the desirable future, and how we should act.[3]<\/a> Peterson elucidates, \u201cOur most fundamental maps of meaning\u2014maps which have a narrative structure\u2014portray the motivational value of our current state, conceived of in contrast to a hypothetical ideal, accompanied by plans of action, which are our pragmatic notions about how to get what we want.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Peterson maps the rationality of Soviet Communism alongside societies formed by myth, and observes that they have been unable to help people find ultimate meaning or help guide behaviour.[5]<\/a> In the introduction, he writes, \u201cI have become convinced that the world-that-is- belief is orderly; that there are universal moral absolutes (although these are structured such that a diverse range of human opinion remains both possible and beneficial). I believe that individuals and societies who flout these absolutes\u2014in ignorance or in willful opposition\u2014are doomed to misery and eventual dissolution.\u201d[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

Important figures in the book include Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, Fredrick Nietzsche, and Alexander Solzhenitsyn.<\/p>\n

Understanding: understanding what the facts mean<\/strong><\/p>\n

A significant theme in the book is the dichotomy between order and chaos. Order represents the known, structured, and predictable aspects of life, while chaos represents the unknown, unpredictable, and potentially threatening aspects.[7]<\/a><\/p>\n

One such meta myth, according to Peterson, is the Christian story. Man has fallen and the world is a mess. Christian morality is the plan of action to attain the ideal state known as the Kingdom of God.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n

Applying: applying the facts and concepts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peterson applies these concepts to modern life, suggesting that understanding these archetypal stories can help individuals make sense of life and thus navigate personal and societal challenges. These challenges indicate that we have either erred or our plans need updating. When we err significantly, we enter chaos and must seek to reintegrate back into an ordered state.[9]<\/a><\/p>\n

Peterson suggests that purpose in life can be achieved by confronting chaos, taking responsibility, and striving for personal growth.<\/p>\n

Analyzing: breaking down complex ideas<\/strong><\/p>\n

The book breaks down complex ideas about the human psyche. Peterson explores the concept of the hero’s journey, where individuals confront chaos, overcome challenges, and return transformed. This journey is seen as a metaphor for personal growth and self-discovery. He writes, \u201cThe archetypal hero makes order out of chaos, brings peace to the world, and restructures society when it has become rigid and anachronistic.\u201d[10]<\/a> In the absence of the hero, chaos reigns.[11]<\/a><\/p>\n

There is a clear synthesis with The Hero With A Thousand Faces<\/em> by Joseph Campbell. Hero is <\/em>about comparative mythology that reveals all great heroic tales share a common narrative arc that has shaped stories across space and time. Campbell explains, \u201cThe hero, therefore, is the man or woman who has been able to battle past his personal and local historical limitations to the generally valid, normally human forms.\u201d[12]<\/a> Like Peterson, Campbell reveals the power of myth to shape belief and behaviour, calling human beings to confront chaos in their lives, become transformed, and bring the world to order.<\/p>\n

Evaluating<\/strong>: judging the value of the ideas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peterson evaluates different belief systems and their impact on human behaviour, arguing that some systems are more effective than others in promoting psychological well-being and societal stability. On the whole, Peterson’s work has significant values as it helps the reader gain an appreciation for the role of myth and should send a warning signal to those who have adopted a postmodern worldview and all of the ramifications associated with it.<\/p>\n

He leans very heavily on the Judeo-Christian story, and this has drawn the ire of many of his critics. One such critic complains, \u201cBut his evidence for the generality of such myths is limited to the tradition that runs from Mesopotamia through Judaism to Christianity, with occasional references to Buddhism.\u201d[13]<\/a><\/p>\n

Creating<\/strong>: combining parts to make a new whole<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peterson encourages readers to create their own maps of meaning by integrating insights from various disciplines and personal experiences to build a coherent and meaningful worldview. The book also has practical implications for individuals, such as the importance of setting goals, and facing challenges.<\/p>\n

For example, every person in this program is currently updating maps of leadership as they study at George Fox in the DLGP. Using an interdisciplinary approach, and through stakeholder research, we are addressing problems in our contexts that may be difficult to address. In doing so, we are confronting the chaos and attempting to bring order to the system that we are in.<\/p>\n

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

Peterson is an influential voice who argues against postmodernity and calls the reader toward belief, purpose, heroic action, and creating a better future. Maps of Meaning<\/em> is a complex book and requires a more in-depth analysis than I have had time for. In the future, I would like to examine his psychological analysis in more detail.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> \u201cBloom\u2019s Taxonomy | Centre for Teaching Excellence | University of Waterloo,\u201d accessed April 2, 2025, https:\/\/uwaterloo.ca\/centre-for-teaching-excellence\/catalogs\/tip-sheets\/blooms-taxonomy.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Jordan B. Peterson, Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief<\/em> (Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2013), 9.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Peterson, 13.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Peterson, 23.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Peterson, 11.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Peterson, Maps of Meaning<\/em>.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Peterson, 23.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Peterson, 17.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Peterson, 47.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> Peterson, 94.<\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> Peterson, 126.<\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces<\/em>, 3. ed., with rev, The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell 17 (Novato, Calif: New World Library, 2008), 14.<\/p>\n

[13]<\/a> \u201cJordan Peterson\u2019s Murky Maps of Meaning | Psychology Today Canada,\u201d accessed April 4, 2025, https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/ca\/blog\/hot-thought\/201803\/jordan-petersons-murky-maps-meaning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

During the March 31st Zoom chat, Dr. Clark introduced us to Bloom\u2019s Taxonomy. Bloom\u2019s Taxonomy is a cognitive hierarchy that begins with memorization and sequentially advances through six steps toward creating something new based on what has been previously learned.[1] I will summarize Jordan Peterson’s Maps of Meaning using Bloom’s Taxonomy. Remembering: recognizing and recalling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":204,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":[1],"tags":[3011,1778],"class_list":["post-41484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-dglp03","tag-peterson","cohort-dlgp03"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41484","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\/204"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41484"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41484\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41521,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41484\/revisions\/41521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}