Dawkins / Peterson and the Rules of Academic Discourse

Richard Dawkins and Jordan Peterson sat down for a spirited exchange that’s been long overdue.

Alex O’Connor moderated, and that was a treat. But the exchange got nowhere.

The whole thing felt like watching my Italian uncles square off at a family dinner.

The two thinkers didn’t extend their knowledge to one another for the sake of what might emerge.

The issue was trust. Trust is the foundation of constructive dialogue and it didn’t seem as if there was any.