AMA-3. Dr. Michael Shermer — Ask Me Anything!

The Jordan Peterson Phenomenon

In this short AMA Michael Shermer answers a single question: "What is your opinion of Jordan Peterson?"

Dr. Shermer is asked this question in nearly every public appearance he makes, along with regular emails and social media queries he receives. At a November 2018 public event with Richard Dawkins, in the Q&A, he and Shermer received no less than four questions about Jordan Peterson, even though Jordan was not the topic of the dialogue between Dawkins and Shermer. Watch that edited clip reel from that dialogue.

Clearly there is much interest in Jordan Peterson and the phenomenon surrounding him, so Dr. Shermer thought he would issue his opinion in the form of an essay he penned for Skeptic magazine 23.3: "Have Archetype — Will Travel: The Jordan Peterson Phenomenon". Purchase back issue 23.3 online.

See also Steven Beckner's brilliant analysis of Jordan Peterson in the same issue: "Thought Crimes Jordan Peterson and the Meaning of the Meaning of Life". (Some have said this is the best and fairest article ever written about Peterson.)

In Science Salon AMA # 3, Dr. Shermer offers a brief summary of his current opinion of Peterson and then reads his essay: "Have Archetype — Will Travel: The Jordan Peterson Phenomenon".

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