20. Good, evil, and everyday heroism

We continue exploring Jordan Peterson’s second rule for life. The second rule is closely connected with the well-known moral law expressed in Kant’s categorical imperative or in the Christian commandment to treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.

An often-overlooked consequence of this idea, which Peterson emphasizes, is its reciprocity. In other words, by accepting this principle for yourself, you should also allow for its application to others. This, in fact, leads to the principle: “Make friends with people who want the best for you.”

It’s unlikely that this sounds entirely new, but the more holistic “view from above,” which is precisely what makes Peterson’s book valuable, allows us to understand these seemingly self-evident truths on a deeper level.