Jordan Peterson’s First Speech at ARC 2025
A Reply To Jordan Peterson
Dear Jordan Peterson,
Thank you for your speech at ARC 2025, where you explored the fine art of civilisational renewal through a cocktail of traditional conservatism, classic liberalism, and, of course, the deeply moving concept of voluntary self-sacrifice. What a delightful idea: a society where we all give up our pleasures for the common good, like some sort of moral hunger games, but with more self-help books and less actual bloodshed. Your argument that sacrifice is the backbone of civilisation is certainly compelling—who doesn’t love a good dose of self-denial and moral high ground, especially when it's offered in such a neat, intellectual package?
But while your call for sacrifice might inspire a few to dust off their old philosophy textbooks and start fasting for world peace, I can’t help but wonder how this all fits in with the behaviour of the world’s wealthiest individuals—particularly those who control enough wealth, media, and political influence to make even the most ambitious moral philosopher break into a cold sweat. While you extol the virtues of voluntary sacrifice, these financial titans seem to have a different take on selflessness—one that involves hoarding resources like a dragon guarding its hoard, but with slightly fewer fire-breathing incidents and more yachts.
In your speech, you lambaste the hedonistic pursuit of pleasure and the thirst for power, both of which you argue lead to societal fragmentation. A fair point. But isn’t it funny how the very media magnates who profit from spreading division are the same ones who could stand to practise a little more of that voluntary self-sacrifice you hold in such high esteem? The billionaires who run the media don’t seem to be promoting unity or cooperation; instead, they thrive on controversy, fear, and the sort of narratives that would make even the most cynical postmodernist blush. If sacrifice is the secret sauce of civilisation, it’s time for these media moguls to stop serving up hot takes and start serving up some humble pie.
Your vision of mutual reciprocity, where people put aside their desires for the greater good, sounds wonderful in theory. But what happens when those in power are too busy accumulating more power, wealth, and influence—often at the expense of the very communities they’re supposed to be serving? It seems we’re expected to take the moral high road, while the richest 1% take a detour straight through the most luxurious shopping malls on Earth, hoarding resources and promoting division like it’s going out of fashion. Could we perhaps get these folks to sacrifice their “more-is-more” mentality in exchange for a little “we’re-all-in-this-together” vibe? If not, I suspect your vision of a prosperous society might just stay locked in the realm of idealism, next to the unicorns and flying cars.
You’ve rightly pointed out the dangers of individualism, especially when it’s dressed up as hedonism. But here's the thing: How does this critique apply to the billionaires who spend fortunes on ludicrously extravagant pursuits—think private islands, space tourism, and buying the rights to every rare artwork ever painted—while the rest of us are struggling to keep the lights on? If we’re going to talk about voluntary self-sacrifice as the bedrock of civilisation, then the wealthiest individuals should probably stop acting like the world is their personal playground and start acting like responsible stewards of the resources they’ve hoarded. Maybe a few less Ferraris and a few more scholarships, if we’re really serious about that common good.
As you explore the union between conservatism and liberalism, it’s hard not to notice the gaping gap between the theory and the reality. On paper, the marriage between individual freedom and communal responsibility sounds like a match made in intellectual heaven. In practice, however, it seems like the wealthiest individuals are far more interested in celebrating their individual freedoms by manipulating media narratives and bending governments to their will, rather than making any real sacrifices for the broader community. If this is how we define “individual freedom,” I think we’ve missed the memo on what “freedom” actually means for the other 99% of society.
And here lies the issue: the abuse of power. You’re absolutely right to say that power, when used properly, should foster unity and the well-being of all. But when that power is wielded by those whose primary goal is to amass more power, wealth, and influence—well, it’s no longer about unity. It’s about control. Instead of being the force for good you envision, these elites are using their power to deepen social fractures, manipulate public opinion, and keep their foot firmly planted on the necks of those less fortunate. If power is truly meant to serve the common good, then the world’s wealthiest should start using their influence to, I don’t know, actually contribute to that good instead of using it as a way to prop up their own dynasties.
In conclusion, while I wholeheartedly agree with your assertion that sacrifice is the cornerstone of civilisation, it seems that the ones who have the most to give are the ones most reluctant to do so. If the richest among us continue to wield their wealth in the pursuit of self-interest, then your vision of a flourishing society will remain, at best, a lovely idea and, at worst, a cruel joke. For true progress to happen, those who hold the most power must finally step up and ask themselves, "What can I sacrifice for the common good?" If they don’t, well, we’ll just have to keep waiting for that utopian civilisation you so passionately advocate for—one that might be just a little bit more about ‘we’ than ‘me.’
Thank you once again for your thought-provoking speech, and I look forward to watching the elite slowly come to terms with the fact that self-sacrifice isn’t just for the little people.
Sincerely,
Satirical Planet News
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