Jordan B. Peterson > Quotes > Quote > Nicolaj liked it
“Anomalies manifest themselves on the border between chaos and order, so to speak, and have a threatening and promising aspect. The promising aspect dominates, when the contact is voluntary, when the exploring agent is up-to-date 鈥 when the individual has explored all previous anomalies, released the 鈥渋nformation鈥 they contained, and built a strong personality and steady 鈥渨orld鈥 from that information.
The threatening aspect dominates, when the contact is involuntary, when the exploring agent is not up-to-date 鈥 when the individual has run away from evidence of his previous errors, failed to extract the information 鈥渓urking behind鈥 his mistakes, weakened his personality, and destabilised his 鈥渨orld.鈥
The phenomenon of interest 鈥 that precursor to exploratory behaviour 鈥 signals the presence of a potentially 鈥渂eneficial鈥 anomaly. Interest manifests itself where an assimilable but novel phenomenon exists: where something new 鈥渉ides,鈥 in a partially comprehensible form. Devout adherence to the dictates of interest 鈥 assuming a suitably disciplined character 鈥 therefore insures stabilisation and renewal of personality and world.
Interest is a spirit beckoning from the unknown 鈥 a spirit calling from outside the 鈥渨alls鈥 of society. Pursuit of individual interest means hearkening to this spirit鈥檚 call 鈥 means journeying outside the protective walls of childhood dependence and adolescent group identification; means also return to and rejuvenation of society.
This means that pursuit of individual interest 鈥 development of true individuality 鈥 is equivalent to identification with the hero. Such identification renders the world bearable, despite its tragedies 鈥 and reduces unnecessary suffering, which most effectively destroys, to an absolute minimum.
This is the message that everyone wants to hear. Risk your security. Face the unknown. Quit lying to yourself, and do what your heart truly tells you to do. You will be better for it, and so will the world.”
― Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief
The threatening aspect dominates, when the contact is involuntary, when the exploring agent is not up-to-date 鈥 when the individual has run away from evidence of his previous errors, failed to extract the information 鈥渓urking behind鈥 his mistakes, weakened his personality, and destabilised his 鈥渨orld.鈥
The phenomenon of interest 鈥 that precursor to exploratory behaviour 鈥 signals the presence of a potentially 鈥渂eneficial鈥 anomaly. Interest manifests itself where an assimilable but novel phenomenon exists: where something new 鈥渉ides,鈥 in a partially comprehensible form. Devout adherence to the dictates of interest 鈥 assuming a suitably disciplined character 鈥 therefore insures stabilisation and renewal of personality and world.
Interest is a spirit beckoning from the unknown 鈥 a spirit calling from outside the 鈥渨alls鈥 of society. Pursuit of individual interest means hearkening to this spirit鈥檚 call 鈥 means journeying outside the protective walls of childhood dependence and adolescent group identification; means also return to and rejuvenation of society.
This means that pursuit of individual interest 鈥 development of true individuality 鈥 is equivalent to identification with the hero. Such identification renders the world bearable, despite its tragedies 鈥 and reduces unnecessary suffering, which most effectively destroys, to an absolute minimum.
This is the message that everyone wants to hear. Risk your security. Face the unknown. Quit lying to yourself, and do what your heart truly tells you to do. You will be better for it, and so will the world.”
― Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief
No comments have been added yet.
