Conservative public intellectual Jordon Peterson has been caught up in the reaction against the Islamophobic terrorist attack in New Zealand. The Canadian psychologist and self-help guru initially had his book– 12 Rules for Life – removed from the Whitcoulls book chain store. And the academic’s visiting fellowship at Cambridge University has been rescinded.
The Peterson ban, both by Whitcoulls in NZ and by Cambridge in the UK, can be seen as a reaction against the spreading of alt-right and new conservative ideology. Jordon Peterson promotes conservative values in relation to gender and social hierarchy.
The book chain Whitcoulls pulled Peterson's self-help book – 12 Rules for Life – in response to the mosque shootings. Whitcoulls argued that they were showing sensitivity to the wider community. Whitcoulls has now returned Peterson’s book to their shelves.
Jordon Peterson is a controversial academic and public intellectual. These bans on Peterson are a reaction against the Professors conservative statements and beliefs on culture, gender, transgenderism, and race. He has been accused by his critics of being sexist, transphobic and a racist. His supporters hail him as an inspirational guru, and as an advocate for young alienated males. Peterson’s critics often label him as an alt-right intellectual who promotes a semi-fascist ideology. Peterson however strongly denies he is alt-right, and argues that he strongly opposes extreme right beliefs.
Critics of the author argue that Peterson’s attack on political correctness and his views on race, gender, and transgenderism are beyond the pale. Therefore, his work should be seen as toxic.
People certainly have a right to be offended by Peterson. And his ideas do need to be challenged and critiqued. However, a widespread ban on the author would not stop his ideas from being circulated and absorbed. And once we start supporting the banning of certain books and certain ideas, we may quickly find ourselves in an illiberal and censorious society, where any text deemed offensive is withdrawn or banned.
Free speech advocates argue that the likes of Peterson should not be banned. Rather, Peterson and other rightwing intellectuals should have their views challenged and debated.
In relation to the mosque shooting, the argument has been put forward that new conservative and alt-right figures have acted to normalize hatred against Muslims and other marginalised groups. Therefore, the views of the likes of Peterson, and alt-right figures such as Milo Yianoupolos, Alex Jones, Stefan Molyneux and Laura Southern, must be suppressed.
However, political freedom advocates would argue that when the state or public institutions ban certain intellectuals and certain ideas, then we can rapidly descend into a situation of widespread censorship, of draconian government, and of general illiberalism. Also, supporters of free speech would point out that once a precedent is set of banning certain ideas, then the state and public institutions will begin to ban a range of dissident ideas of both the left and right.
Expect this debate on free speech and censorship to be one of the major political issues over the next year.
