The New Puritans: How the Religion of Social Justice Captured the Western World

by Andrew Doyle

It should go without saying that nobody has ever been persuaded to alter their convictions by having them misrepresented or insulted. For all that we might be tempted to assume the worst of those with whom we disagree, we will never win anyone over if we have already decided that their very opposition is a moral flaw. I do not disbelieve these prominent voices on the left when they tell us how frustrated they are at what they perceive to be the rise of the far right in mainstream politics. I also have little doubt that their intentions are good, even if their conclusions are bad. But if they are serious about changing minds, it would serve them well to try arguing against their opponents’ actual viewpoints rather than those they imagine them to hold. By maligning others from the outset, they undermine their own cause. Consider the example of Jordan Peterson. As a public figure, there are two versions of the man. The first is a professor of psychology with a particular interest in religious and ideological belief systems. Many of his lectures on self-improvement have been circulated via YouTube, and his measured and compassionate approach has enabled him to cultivate a loyal following. The second Jordan Peterson is a notorious firebrand of the alt-right. He is a transphobic provocateur whose lectures amount to little more than hate speech. Of these two Jordan Petersons, only the first actually exists. Presenter Cathy Newman’s now famous interview for Channel 4 News exemplif...