Jordan Peterson’s Conservative Manifesto: Vision for Conservatives (Part Two)

A Conservative Manifesto is Dr. Peterson’s attempt to formulate  a Positive Vision for the Right and the Left

In his last lecture video, Jordan Peterson read his Conservative Manifesto. He hopes this document will empower conservatism, represent conservative values, and bring out their “theological and metaphysical” foundations. Furthermore, he listed the virtues that all conservatives must uphold and defend, from humility to unity.

But his Conservative Manifesto comes with a second part. In this follow-up video, he provided appendices that supplement his conservatism. They cover economics, moral accountability, marriage, and social responsibilities. Make no mistake; these supplemental lessons are also vital and nourishing for modern-day conservatives. Furthermore, these lessons transcend religious and cultural differences.

This article will instruct you about the crucial wisdom in the appendices of his Conservative Manifesto. This way, you will be intellectually armed in facing woke and post-modern ideologies.

Entire Series: 2017 Personality and Its Transformations Parts 1-22

Part 1: How should we view and improve poverty and inequality?

Conservatives must comprehend and examine what it means to be poor, including the unequal allocation of resources and wealth.

Absolute poverty and deprivation are a fact of nature. All beings, from the tiniest microbes to giant beasts, must fight for their needs and survival. Therefore, it is not true that poverty comes from inherent “sin” or foul social hierarchies. It takes so much labor and effort to escape severe scarcity.

Likewise, relative poverty is a mysterious natural and social reality. It is not intentional sabotage by institutions, but a pattern found throughout the universe and the planet. Consider the following:

• In galaxies, only some stars carry the most mass.
• Only a few rivers hold most of the planet’s freshwater.
• Only a few cities contain most of the population.
• A small number of earthquakes demolish most establishments.
• Most oil deposits come from a few oil fields.

One can observe the same trend in creative endeavors and output:

• A few classical composers released most of the music in their genre’s repertoire.
• Only a few scientists publish most scientific articles and findings; few of these receive the most citations.
• A few authors reach bestseller status.

This natural tendency of inequality is also lodged in economics, production, and wealth distribution. A few people develop the majority of value and far-reaching enterprises. Hence, their compensation reflects the same: a few people receive the highest income and material gain.

But beware: we do not discuss these natural facts to justify poverty. Instead, we should consider these realities a severe and complicated issue. After all, fighting poverty is as challenging as contending with the harshness of life. We should not be tempted to blame capitalism, democracy, or free markets.

Sure, exploitation can corrupt social institutions, from households to religions and governments. It destroys people’s trust, productivity, and civic participation. However, remember that exploitation is not the fundamental root of economic problems! Instead of feeling greed, bitterness, and hopelessness towards social institutions, people must strive for the right ambition and fruitful labors.

What should governments and conservatives do in the face of poverty and inequality? Societies must promote the freedom to be productive and reward those who benefit the community through their work. Nonetheless, they must acknowledge and stop intentional disparities and discrimination. They should also sympathize with and help those who suffer from hardships.

The West has become plentiful because people can build enterprises to foster and succeed based on their chosen direction. Moreover, this culture encouraged citizens to interact ethically, strive upward, and generously produce. This dynamic gives space for everyone to foster their inborn abilities. Such a sense of responsibility through labor gives them hope and opportunities against poverty.

With this in mind, remember that all of us are born with privileges and deprivation. Many spent their infancy and childhood in poverty and poor health. Meanwhile, others are born into wealth, possibilities, and advantages. But how should we respond, wherever we came from? Gratitude, endurance, and courage. How can we manifest these virtues as we pave our ways and labors? Seek to spend whatever unique ability or gift we have to uplift the poor and unfortunate. Aim to keep our conscience alive in our works as a source of meaning. Ultimately, this purpose sustains our will to live and shields us from despair, regardless of our poverty or wealth.

Whatever economic standing they may have, conservatives must balance their freedom and autonomy and their desire to be caring and benevolent. After all, as one of the long-standing Western traditions declares, “it is better to give than to receive.”

Part 2: Personal responsibility and meaning

What does it mean to live without purpose? Why should one wake up in the morning, then? What is the point of heritage if history is rooted in guilt and prejudice? Likewise, why should people have ambition if apocalyptic doom only awaits? Life is full of tragedy, betrayal, and suffering. This bitterness makes it tempting to only indulge in pleasure, cynicism, and even cruelty. How demoralizing and empty!

These complaints resonate today despite the relative prosperity and security the world enjoys today compared to a century ago. Despite the opportunities brought by modernity, people today suspect others’ motivations and distrust their endeavors. Politics have become more polarized as generations decry institutional corruption, victimization, and abuse.

Because of this, conservatives must provide an alternative to this nihilism and hatred. They must encourage others to tolerate suffering and find stability by practicing daily virtues. Indeed, foundational values like responsibility, duty, and commitment are attacked by moral relativists as “exploitative” or outdated. But we must unite in these principles that provide hope and meaning in this age of confusion and ignorance.

Part 3: Maturity and self-control

Maturity comes from the power to delay gratification. Because everything we do has consequences, denying oneself is vital to adapt to the future. Resisting temptations also helps us practice our social obligations and carry our burdens. This lesson is especially critical for the youth because they need this fortitude for the survival of their future selves, families, and other relationships.

Therefore, conservatives must promote maturity and self-control among children and adolescents. Parents and educators must teach these values as a good and reasonable ambition.

Part 4: Marriage, families, and friendships

Conservatives must admire and promote the institution of marriage and families. We must stand up for these institutions, no matter what “utopian” alternative is encouraged by intellectuals and theorists.

Why should we highly esteem and respect traditional and permanent monogamous relationships? Throughout millennia, marriage has been an institution that transcended geography and culture. Sexual intimacy has been chiefly confined to a steady relationship as well. Furthermore, children best grew up with opposite-sex parents—a man and a woman—in a permanent unit. Healthy marriage bears the following benefits:

• Here, partners can display and give genuine physical and spiritual intimacy.
• Marriage promotes communication and psychological development between spouses.
• The partners can face the challenges of raising children together.
• Life becomes more satisfactory and mature.
• Stable monogamous families provide boys and girls with role models to guide them as they grow up and form relationships.
• Male youth in stable marital families tend to be less aggressive, jealous, greedy, or frustrated.
• Marriage gives women security despite the dangers and vulnerabilities of bearing and raising children.

Likewise, families are the pillars of our society. Conservatives must proclaim the family’s beauty, joy, and stability. But it is crucial to start at our homes. Parents must be caring and devoted; brothers and sisters must be honest and selfless; sons and daughters must be loving, respectful, and conscientious. Such a household supports and embraces each member, encouraging goodwill. They can endure hardships and serve as a strong foundation for the nation. Families, therefore, help create noble friends, laborers, and citizens. It is only fitting that conservatives help strengthen families, especially their own, without toxic distrust and guilt.

Friendships provide joy, support, and comfort. They celebrate with you in success and console you in painful times. Hence, these relationships must not be tainted by the drive for power or dominance. True friendships—the kind of bond conservatives must pursue—must come from reciprocity and good faith. Surround yourselves with people who want the best for you and those who will stay beside you in times of stability and uncertainty. Good friends will keep you from hopelessness and cynicism, helping you flourish amidst the chaos of life.

Part 5: Employment

Jobs and careers are crucial for society and production. It requires sacrifice; workers must sacrifice their current wants for their community and future. Unfortunately, cynics see work as a curse and exploitation. Thus, many laborers feel resentful towards their craft they see as degrading and hopeless.

Again, poverty is not rooted in the class struggle between races, sexes, or economic standing. Hardship is the primary condition of life, and we must exert effort and labor to rise from it. Yes, we can ascend from it, as proven by millions of people who successfully did so!

Work is a blessing. Here are the reasons why:

• Work is not only an opportunity to fight poverty, but it also provides meaning to succeed in our tasks and participate in achieving a goal.
• It allows people to help their community and contribute to their fellow people. Likewise, they get rewarded for the value they offer.
• Work serves as an avenue for meaningful friendships and relationships.
• It helps them learn new skills and achieve practical growth.
• Work gives people experience to become more informed and skilled for more complex enterprises.

Work is crucial for people and society, but it is constantly attacked. Hence, conservatives must defend labor, free markets, and fair employment.

Part 6: Civic Engagement

While individuals and families serve as the country’s bedrock, they must participate in civic groups and local institutions. Clubs, teams, foundations, parties, and congregations promote social unity and interpersonal relationships. These organizations also allow people to voluntarily serve and connect with others in their communities.

Conservatives should promote civic engagement to people who feel alone and isolated. Encourage them to willingly engage and help others through their trade and skills through these groups. Ultimately, the friendships and social values they will reap can help them feel welcomed, appreciated, and loved.

Entire Series: 2017 Personality and Its Transformations Parts 1-22

Part 7: Accomplishment

Ambition is the inspiration to progress and advance, despite life’s hardships and difficulties. It drives people to choose courage and integrity amidst frustration, poverty, and tragedies. Unlike how ambition has been painted, it is not rooted in the desire to dominate, abuse, or selfishly gratify oneself. Instead, it is the will to become competent and progress towards accomplishment.

Moral ambition is crucial in decreasing undeserved suffering and reaching lasting happiness. It gives people the power to pursue adventures toward prosperity, security, and opportunities. In a way, accomplishment is justice.

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