I was quite hesitant about this week’s topic, as, today I’m writing about something I don’t understand. I’m aware that this isn’t how the blogging game is usually approached, as we want to offer value to a reader, generally in the form of knowledge or advice. But today I was sitting in the metro, reading a book – Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life – and there was something in there that I just couldn’t comprehend. I was thinking about what he wrote for a good few minutes and came to the conclusion that I have actually no idea how to stick the puzzle pieces together into something that makes sense. But since I use this blog to learn too, not only to share what I already learnt, I want to use this platform that I created to enrich my horizons and yours as well – hopefully. Perhaps you can help me make sense of my mental chaos about Good and Bad!
Why do we love our pets more than we love ourselves?
This was the dominant question that Peterson addressed in the second chapter of his book. I know – and I’ve been there – that it’s not very difficult for people to dislike themselves. We’re very critical with ourselves and have trouble loving ourselves. Our pets though – our dogs and cats and more – we have no trouble loving with all our heart. But how come? Why exactly are we able to feel so much love for one but not so much for another? Even – or especially – when that’s our own body, mind and soul?
A religious excursion…
Peterson is very skilled at explaining one matter by talking about another. Naturally, he started to talk about the bible. I have said before that I have had my troubles believing in the bible, even though my belief in a higher power (might that be God) is growing every day. However, what he said makes perfect sense to me. Listen…
When Eve ate the poisonous apple because she was tempted by the snake in the garden of Eden, she first and foremost gained consciousness. Self-consciousness! She first noticed that she was naked. And she got ashamed of being naked and covered up. So did Adam. In the garden of Eden they were still pure, free from temptation and god-like. When they became conscious they started to judge – for example Adam judged Eve for persuading him to eat the apple too. This is when human behavior was born. A behavior that is capable of shameful things – resentment, manipulation, dishonesty, violence, shame, malevolence, etc.
Nakedness…
He also said that being ashamed of being naked – which was, as I said, one of the first things that happened to Eve once she ate the apple – is one of the most natural feelings a human can have. But why is that? Every other animal is naked too… Well, apparently – and it makes a lot of sense to me – being naked makes us vulnerable and weak. It’s when others can judge our beauty and health the fastest and the easiest. We can be damaged more easily, it’s when we are unprotected and unarmed. But what does that have to do with bene- and malevolence? Self-consciousness! We are aware of our weaknesses, but animals aren’t.
The difference between evil and nature
According to Jordan, dogs and cats are predators. And so are a lot of other animals. Most of them. They are able – and willing and dependent – on killing other animals. However, we don’t judge them. Why should we? It’s natural behavior and they need to do so in order to survive. But the point is: they have no self-awareness, no (self-)consciousness. We don’t yell at our pets when they spill something because we know they won’t understand us anyway.
So, without being aware of this (how ironic) we are much harder on ourselves than we are on animals because we know that we know what we’re doing. And we’re not even talking about killing someone. We put ourselves down for every little thing we do wrong. The question is: Does our self-consciousness that gives us the ability to understand our own behavior make us evil or bad when we do something that is considered as ‘bad’? Are only animals good because they don’t understand what they’re doing? Jordan Peterson then wrote – and this statement took my breath away – that the best definition of ‘evil’ that he could come up with is: “Only man will inflict suffering for the sake of suffering”. Huh…
The nature of the soul
Here, I would say what I’ve said before. Or what I thought I knew before: The soul is good (it cannot be bad) and the human body is what makes us bad. Again, just because we don’t murder, doesn’t mean we’re not wicked. Everyone has the capacity to lie, manipulate, shame, mistreat, etc. And we all do it!
However! As I said, I was riding the metro when I read that chapter. And when I reflected on what I had just read I looked around. And I saw someone switch seats with a woman so that she could sit next to her child. I saw someone give up their seat for an elderly couple. And the husband insisted on his wife sitting down, even though he was older. I saw a mother covering her baby’s face when an alarm with a glaring light went off to shield its eyes. I was listening to José Luis Perales, a Spanish singer, sing the words “where did he fall in love with you? Ask him, because he robbed a piece of my life. He’s a thief who took everything from me.” I saw people stepping aside, so that people could comfortably get off the metro. And I just thought humans are a 100% able to feel and show love, unconditionally mostly.
Good or evil? Love or hate? Bene- or malevolence? Yin or Yang?
How come, those people – us – don’t love themselves just as much as they probably dislike themselves? I know I’m making many assumptions here. But I know how many people are struggling to appreciate themselves. If we’re so hard on ourselves that we can judge every little thing we do wrong, every little act of evil, because we’re so self-aware and self-conscious, how come we don’t see these beautiful parts of ourselves? Life isn’t black and white. Neither are we. Peterson brings up Yin and Yang a few times. The bad and the good, female and male, chaos and order. I have no idea what my conclusions are from this. I guess this guy just challenged my mind in a thousand different ways, leaving me questioning how life works, what good and bad even is. Why we judge some and others not. Why we do the same when we love.
I hope I was able to make you question a few things as well. Maybe you think about all this for 47 seconds or so. Perhaps you share a thought or two about it with someone. If you have a few answers for me, don’t hesitate to share 🙂
I’ll see you soon. Thank you for reading <3
