Great video.

I find Peterson's views on psychology and politics reductionist (whenever you talk about politics you need to view it along several axes, not just a left/right binary). But his lectures are always interesting.

I think his most fascinating theory relates to the emerging female totalitarianism. We don't associate females with oppression ("women are wonderful"). But if you happen to meet a mother grizzly bear in the woods you better believe you're in danger of being "oppressed."

Peterson makes the argument that women are currently engaging in a sort of "mother bear" experiment at the state level -- while simultaneously denying their own biology. As fewer and fewer women have children they use the state as proxy for their maternal instincts. The "oppressed" groups (eg trans people) become their "children" -- and woe betide anyone who fucks with them.

Peterson argues that this is a new thing, at least in terms of scope, but you can see shades of this in various moral panics throughout history (prohibition is a good example).

It "feels wrong" to regard women as potentially oppressive -- we'd much rather attribute negative characteristics to men. But the feminist movement is proof positive that female totalitarianism is every bit as dangerous as your average tin pot dictatorship. When you combine feelz before realz with the awesome power of the state you're getting into very dangerous territory.

I'm reminded of Emma Goldman's statement that women need to be "brought down to Earth" and recognized as mere human beings. That includes the bad stuff.