What to Do When Life Feels Empty

Jordan B Peterson

Summary

In this lecture, Jordan Peterson analyzes the biblical story of Abraham to explore the shift from infantile security to the adult life of romantic adventure. He examines the nature of good and evil, the psychological necessity of moving beyond moral relativism, and the transformative power of answering one's inner calling. By treating life as a series of sacrificial acts, Peterson argues that we can overcome the potential for malevolence within us and achieve a life that is both meaningful and beneficial to the collective.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Understanding Story and Narrative
  2. 13:20Encountering the Nature of Evil
  3. 25:00Totalitarianism and Ideological Lies
  4. 41:40The Function of Literature and Perception
  5. 58:20The Call of Abraham
  6. 1:15:00Sacrifice and Personal Destiny

Topics covered

  • The Problem of Evil
  • The Totalitarian Lie

+4 more topics (full content when you follow the channel)

Transcript excerpt

Hello again everybody. Today we're releasing the third lecture from my last tour. Each of them stands alone, but together they provide a detailed analysis of the deepest, most meaningful and most influential stories ever told. Our attention turns today from Cain and Abel and the discovery and significance of sacrifice to the conceptualization of life as romantic adventure. This is captured in the great account of Abraham who was called as we all are away from the security and familiarity of our childhood surroundings into the uncertainty and possibility of our adult lives. What could we possibly become? What could we possibly offer if we swore above all to aim up regardless of the catastrophe and tragedy of our lives? Watch and see. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all for coming. So, I'm going to jump right into the story and then elaborate on it as we proceed. I want to talk to you toni…