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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat's this "equal outcome" narrative that Jordan Peterson always tries to stick on the "Left"?
Every now and then I'll run across a Jordan Peterson video on line and give it a listen. He's always talking about how the "left" expects "equal outcome", as in everyone's success will be equal. Such a narrative of course implies that the "left" expects something for nothing, that they are lazy and unrealistic. He claims this as a highly educated clinical psychologist and a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. But, I'm thinking for all his knowledge, Peterson is totally wrong when he claims the "left" is pushing for "equal outcome".
I know it's anecdotal, but I've never heard anyone, or any group on the so-called "left" call for "equal outcome". "Equal opportunity" yes, I've heard calls for "equal opportunity". I've also heard calls for things such as "equal justice" and "equal rights". But, I have never heard any group or gender call for, or expect "equal outcome". I think Peterson is distorting protests for "equal opportunity" and applying a false narrative to the "left".
What's your take on this guy? He's got credentials and a fabulous vocabulary and I'm just a lowly hourly wage type guy with little education, but I honestly think Peterson is full of crap on this.
Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)blogslut
(37,997 posts)When you see a Jordan Peterson video in your YouTube suggested videos on the righthand menu, hover over it until the three little dots show up, click the dots, then click either 'Not Interested' or 'Report Video'
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)or garbled in some way. In this case, "equal outcomes" is an idea from political philosophy and is often contrasted with "equal treatment." If I were handing out food, equal treatment would be that I give everyone the same amount, no matter how hungry they are. Equal outcomes would be when I gave each person enough to feel full, even though that means some get more than others.
Equal outcomes is a Marxist ideal, very few in the modern left believe fully in that. But it does pop up now and then. Affirmative action for example. If minorities are under-represented in the workforce, equal outcomes says you need to recruit more minorities until they are proportional to the general population.
The right hates this because it implies that you are running something other than a meritocracy. They ignore the effects of systemic racism and any other factors that hinder minority representation. So the right wants equal treatment, no special recruitment for minorities but they call it equal opportunity because they assume the selection process really is color blind, gender blind etc.
Make sense now?
yonder
(9,663 posts)Triloon
(506 posts)Peterson is a good example of how an educated cannibal is still a cannibal. I know some really intelligent people that think he's got some points, but he's in my goofball file. Can't really listen to him.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)But a version or sort of "equal outcome" might be considered to be the universal guaranteed income. That is, no matter what anyone does or doesn't do, you all get X dollars. Equal outcome. If that can be considered that.
Maybe what's worrying the Jordan guy is that if there is equal opportunity, there will be equal outcomes? Hmmmmm.