The Battle of Modernity: Diogenes and Jordan Peterson Debate Humanity's Soul

Diogenes, a philosophic pioneer of antiquity, had just landed his spaceship on an interstellar asteroid millions of miles away from the warmth and lush vegetation back home. 'What on earth is this place?' He thought to himself.

Just then, a new alien presence appeared in the distance. Diogenes peered through his telescope and was surprised to see Jordan Petereson levitating up from the depths of the asteroid’s crater. As Peterson soared closer, Diogenes prepared himself to meet the renowned figure of the modern age.

Diogenes: “Greetings, Peterson, I would think this an unlikely place to choose as your office. Away from your precepts and dogmas of modernity.”

Jordan Peterson: “Ah, Diogenes! Our paths meet again! After centuries of eluding each other, I'd like to think this a sign!”

Diogenes: “It appears they would. What brings you such a far distance?”

Jordan Peterson: “Curiosity – A dangerous temptation, wouldn’t you agree?”

Diogenes: “Oh, it can be to some, but here on this asteroid, surrounded by our endless cosmos, I’d say it is needed! It’s taken us further than ever conceived by the ancients or the moderns.”

Jordan Peterson: “Yes, I suppose it has. But I worry that modernity has taken us away from what truly matters, we are among the stars, but there is no religion, no arts, no philosophy.”

Diogenes: “No philosophy?! We still have philosophy! The difference is that human beings should think more individually, as opposed to believing everything they are told by tradition and what people say. In this way, they can truly come up with meaningful solutions and answers.

Jordan Peterson: “Yes, yes, I agree, I agree, but I fear the soul has been lost. What’s happening to the individual’s spirit? Distraction, constant distraction is what has come out of this kind of modernity…”

Diogenes: “Relax Peterson, don’t be so excited. All our current age does is simply help us to understand ourselves on a deeper level. How else did we come so far?”

Jordan Peterson: “I’m not sure an answer to that will come anytime soon.”

Diogenes: “Maybe not, but I can see that you still believe in what you say, even if I don’t quite agree.”

The two floated in the silent abyss of space, contemplating the nature of what they had just conversed. While it was unclear if either philosopher had any inclination of where their individual beliefs would take them, the intensity of their discussion lingered in the cosmos, bringing joy, nostalgia, understanding, and mystery with it, leaving an effect whose magnitude is still hard to grasp today.