Essays

Jordan Peterson Distorts “the Jewish Question”

Jordan Peterson

by Organon tou Ontos

I REPRODUCE Peterson’s original article here. Below, I address his argument. Advocating the relevance of the Jewish question is not a necessary condition for taking Peterson to task for distorting it. But accepting or rejecting it should be based on an authentic view of it, not a Straw Man version of it.

Here is how Peterson sets up “the Jewish question”:

1) The question is “so-called” (i.e., Peterson already dismisses it before raising it).

2) Advocates of “identity politics” (i.e., ethnic or racial nationalists) question why Jews are in “positions of authority, competence, and influence.” These are Peterson’s terms.

This is a classic case of a Straw Man. He’s already structured it in a way he can easily take it apart: The so-called question of why Jews are in positions of “competence.”

He then goes on to claim to dissect the “far right” view of the Jewish question:

1) What are the motives for asking why Jews would be “successful” and over-represented in positions of “competence”? Peterson claims it is probably because that person:

a) is a loser;
b) can feel like a victim;
c) can feel superior;
d) can simplify the world;
e) can have an object of “hate.”

2) Having dismissed the possibility of legitimate motives for validating the Jewish question, Peterson turns to the validity of the claims underlying the question itself: “Second, in what manner (if any) are such claims true? Well, Jews are genuinely over-represented in positions of authority, competence and influence.” Peterson then cites the IQ of Jews, their work ethic, and capacity to network. Given this, of course Jews are prominent in positions of “competence” and “success.”

Having set up his Straw Man, Peterson proceeds to demolish it: “No conspiracy.”

I found Peterson’s article through Paul Joseph Watson’s Twitter feed. Watson is typical of the sort of smug, mouthy libertarian conservative for whom all of this is really about fighting political correctness and making sure there aren’t enough Muslims in our societies to cause problems for queers or Jews. In his view, the “alt-right” has splintered into two factions, including the New Right, who just want to party:

“One is more accurately described as the New Right. These people like to wear MAGA [Make America Great Again] hats, create memes & have fun… They include whites, blacks, Asians, Latinos, gays and everyone else. These are the people who helped Trump win the election.”

Then there is the other half, who want to ruin the “fun” that Trump’s Presidency has brought:

“The other faction likes to fester in dark corners of sub-reddits … and obsess about Jews, racial superiority and Adolf Hitler. This is a tiny fringe minority. They had no impact on the election.”

To read Watson and Peterson, one would very easily get the impression that the “Jewish question” is a recent concoction of this nasty “fringe minority” of the “alt-right.”

Is all of this an accurate depiction of the “Jewish question”?

Theodor Herzl, the political father of Zionism, structured the Jewish question in the following way: What should be the fate of Jews, given irreconcilable ethnic interests?

The ethnic interests of Jews and non-Jews are irreconcilable without harm coming to either or both: In each country where Jews are present, what should come of them?

The same question can be asked now by non-Jews, and it has been asked for hundreds of years. But what is less relevant for most contemporary Britons, Germans, or Americans, is whether there is a “conspiracy” or if Jews are “successful” and “influential,” but what Jews tend to do with their individual and aggregate influence. The list of elements below is just a handful of factors, though there are others.

a) Jews tend to promote wars that help them but hurt their host;
b) Jews tend to promote or encourage transgender identity and homosexuality;
c) Jews encourage pornography and oversexualizing among their hosts;
d) Jews tend to promote racial and ethnic diversity in their host societies;
e) Jews promote loosening familial, societal, and ethnic bonds in host societies;
f) Jews often encourage a liberalizing of immigration policy;
g) Jews are often involved in, or lead, efforts to empower and elevate minorities;
h) Jews exploit the Judaic roots of Christianity to promote Zionist views;

These are not presented as a complete and exhaustive list. Each society is distinct, and the imprint of Jews can be distinct. However, the real issue is not over-representation of Jews in positions of influence. The real issue is the fundamental problems that are generated by the over-estimation of Jews by non-Jews, which leads to political, social, and ethnic challenges like those that are listed above.

Neither Watson nor Peterson are asking what the fundamental makeup of their countries will be in the next century. They are focused solely on functional civility: The extent to which the country in which they reside is a hospitable place for people to exercise rights. From their perspective, identity politics should be rejected. So, if we have no ethnic interests, there is nothing for Jews to detrimentally impact.

* * *

Source: Organon tou Ontos

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jerry smith
jerry smith
25 March, 2020 5:46 am

Petersen has said he has taught the Holocaust in his classroom for the last 30 years; /discussion, no?

Paul
Paul
Reply to  jerry smith
25 March, 2020 10:29 am

A few thoughts….. Holycost is the jew god(religion) and they disseminate it. It sanctified by their henotheism into a monopoly and is the end of our (gentile) history . It abhors inspection and forbids doubt. Antisemitism is universal and makes them sovereign in any state. Holycost preempts the events and true history of the war (both world wars) It gives Israel and its diaspora a right to claim the earth. A lie must proliferate through reiteration and omnipresence. When necessary coercion . Mind control through education. It is satanic.

Patrick Pappano
Patrick Pappano
26 March, 2020 5:57 am

In the left/right spectrum I am far right. Also, I have worked for and with Jews for much of my life. With this as context, my take is that white Christians, or ordinary folk, are attracted to creating value as in farming, engineering, manual labor or even, playing sports. These things do not motivate Jews at all, has been my observation. Jews are harvesters and want to own things not make them. So while gentiles dream of great feats of derring-do, Jews focus on how they can make money out of it. So it is no wonder that Gentiles work for Jews. Gentiles are the football players and Jews own the stadium. The big question is: can gentiles live without Jews or do they need the Jews to issue their… Read more »

Erik
Erik
5 April, 2020 11:22 pm

“Given this, of course Jews are prominent in positions of “competence” and “success.”” Look, Jews are self-serving diabolical ruthless criminals ; they ARE the MOB. Don’t put these lizards on some pedestal just because they can buy their way out of their crimes. These slithering snakes are nation-wreckers and pedophiles, misanthropes and murderers. No forgiveness, EVER, and no amount of money will ever stop or shut up those who know the truth. Here is the truth . . . The Jews want the entire planet, and they’re getting ready to make their move. For now, just building up Israel and multiplying the Jewish race keeps them somewhat placated, but make no mistake ; they aim to murder us all and take EVERYTHING we have. Always remember that Jews cannot help… Read more »

Organon
Organon
15 August, 2020 2:19 pm

The URL that the above article links the reader to is now an archive. I’ve kept it up precisely for situations like this: Where sites make use of an old URL and it’s helpful to you, sharing my content, to give your readers a non-broken link. The reason I have changed the URL and now have a new, official version of this blog is because Greg Johnson of Counter-Currents reports my content on Facebook. This leads to Facebook users being unable to access articles on my site. I’m not going to use your page as a forum to express any other, related views; the above suffices. My views of Greg, specifically his political views, are clear on “Bowels of the Undying Worm,” and also reflected in the name of the… Read more »