Slavoj Zizek vs. Jordan Peterson Debate

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Overview

Slavoj Zizek vs. Jordan Peterson Debate refers to an event held on April 19th, 2019 in which writer and clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson and philosopher Slavoj Zizek discussed the concept of happiness as it relates to Marxism and Capitalism.

Background

On February 13, 2018, Slavoj Zizek wrote an Op-Ed piece for Independent^[1] entitled, "Why do people find Jordan Peterson so convincing? Because the left doesn't have its own house in order". In the piece he critiques both the right and the left. He structures his arguments around anti-immigration and political correctness:

"Anti-immigrant racism and sexism is not dangerous because it lies; it is at its most dangerous when its lie is presented in the form of a (partial) factual truth.
Unfortunately, the liberal, left-wing reaction to anti-immigrant populism is no better. Populism and leftie “political correctness” practice the two complementary forms of lying which follow the classic distinction between hysteria and obsessional neurosis: a hysteric tells the truth in the guise of a lie (what it says is literally not true, but the lie expresses in a false form an authentic complaint), while what an obsessional neurotic claims is literally true, but it is a truth which serves a lie."

On February 28th, 2019, Peterson uploaded a video titled "Zizek vs Peterson: April 19," in which he announced he would be debating Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek on April 19th, 2019 at the Sony Central in Ontario, Canada over the topic "happiness: Marxism vs. capitalism" (shown below).

That day, Redditor Big_Red_Machine_1917 submitted a Steamed Hams comic mocking the debate to /r/ChapoTrapHouse^[2] (shown below). Meanwhile, a picture of Kermit the Frog talking to Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street was submitted to /r/enoughpetersonspam^[3] (shown below, right).

On April 19th, the debate was held and live streamed. Numerous threads and media outlets provided live commentary. ^[4]^[5]^[6] On April 20th, the "Slavoj Zizek vs Jordan Peterson debate" was uploaded in full to YouTube by Andrej P. Škraba (shown below). The video has accumulated 775,000 views and 18,000 likes in two days.

Developments

On April 19th, 2019, Twitter was quick to point out the ways in which Jordan Peterson was unprepared for the debate. Images and tweets shared primarily mocked Peterson's understanding of Marxism and lack of familiarity with Zizek's works. Twitter user @whotwotewho^[8] posted, "Peterson: I couldn’t read Zizek’s book in time, so I read Marx’s shortest book. Zizek: I have read all of Marx’s books, your books, and you." (shown below, left). The post gained 1,900 likes and 390 retweets in three days. Twitter user @Sethisaweaboo2^[10] tweet one of the first edits of possible Google searches made by Peterson during Zizek's opening statements (shown below, right). The tweet gained 140 likes in three days.

On April 20th, 2019, Redditors commented on similar themes as those on Twitter. Redditor hailsobek posted and image of Peterson googling Hegel to /r/ChapoTrapHouse^[9] (shown below, left) The post gained over 3,000 points (99% upvoted) in two days. Redditor PoemNinja uploaded a photoshopped image to /r/zizek^[11] in which Zizek reads a book on Hegel to Peterson (shown below, center). The post gained 220 points (95% upvoted) in two days. Redditor Realtreecamo4k posted an image illustrating Peterson's confusion around Zizek's stance on Marxism to /r/zizek^[12] (shown below, right). The post garner 149 points (96% upvoted).

That same day, Redditor tinyspirit741 posted an image to /r/chapotraphouse^[15] parodying characteristics of the Zizek and Peterson (shown below). The post gained over 1,000 points (98% upvoted) in two days.

The Guardian^[7] outlined the debate as a failure on both participants parts. Peterson was unprepared and disappointed his fans while Zizek's points were often off topic. "One hated communism. The other hated communism but thought that capitalism possessed inherent contradictions. The first one agreed that capitalism possessed inherent contradictions. And that was basically it." Redditors discussed their disappointment with Peterson's performance in /r/JordanPeterson^[8].

On April 21st, Redditor A_Largo_Edwardo^[13] posted their collection of memes^[14] about the debate (some shown below). The list gained 36 points (89% upvoted) in a day.