Jordan Peterson and the Intellectual Dark Web as Establishment Conformists
This opinion piece argues that Jordan Peterson and the broader 'Intellectual Dark Web' have failed to deliver on their promise of true heterodox thought, ultimately becoming conformist shills for the establishment. The author contrasts Peterson's current state, marked by health struggles and neurological complications, with his earlier reputation as a fearless critic of woke ideology. Originally coined by Bari Weiss in 2018, the Intellectual Dark Web was celebrated for civil disagreement and resistance to institutional censorship. However, the article contends that this movement has devolved into a reactive force against Obama-era progressivism, lacking the ruthless criticism it once purported to champion. Similar to the communitarian movement of the 1980s, these thinkers have been co-opted by mainstream political forces. The author suggests that social media fame demands a brand of conformity that is just as anti-intellectual as the progressive orthodoxy they opposed, thereby constraining their ability to explore challenging ideas freely.
Wire timeline
Jordan Peterson and the Intellectual Dark Web as Establishment Conformists
This opinion piece argues that Jordan Peterson and the broader 'Intellectual Dark Web' have failed to deliver on their promise of true heterodox thought, ultimately becoming conformist shills for the establishment. The author contrasts Peterson's current state, marked by health struggles and neurological complications, with his earlier reputation as a fearless critic of woke ideology. Originally coined by Bari Weiss in 2018, the Intellectual Dark Web was celebrated for civil disagreement and resistance to institutional censorship. However, the article contends that this movement has devolved into a reactive force against Obama-era progressivism, lacking the ruthless criticism it once purported to champion. Similar to the communitarian movement of the 1980s, these thinkers have been co-opted by mainstream political forces. The author suggests that social media fame demands a brand of conformity that is just as anti-intellectual as the progressive orthodoxy they opposed, thereby constraining their ability to explore challenging ideas freely.
UnHerd