1.I want to explore why Jordan Peterson is suing academics for "defaming" him in a private meeting. Won't take very long. nationalpost.com/news/provincia…
2.Is he doing it because he feels that their words damaged him? Is he doing it for publicity? Is he suing them in the hopes that he will win?
I believe the answer to all 3 questions is no.
I believe the answer to all 3 questions is no.
3. It'll be almost impossible for him to prove the WLU profs damaged him by criticizing him in private. The simple fact is that their words, once leaked, propelled him to new heights of recognition, fame and wealth. Their supposed "defamation" was a great gift to his reputation.
4.Some of Peterson's critics have argued he's suing WLU for the publicity. I'm a critic of Peterson's, and I'm skeptical of this. The WLU thing is an old battle, one that he won. A lawsuit is risky, one he could lose. He could grab better headlines with a dozen other initiatives.
5.So is he suing fellow academics because he genuinely believes that they violated his rights and libel law by criticizing him, and he thinks he can win? I'll argue no.
6.His case is very weak. Proving malice & damages will be a huge challenge, overcoming a qualified privilege defence: same. He'd need a top libel lawyer to even stand a chance, but he's repped by an employment lawyer (pro bono?).
7.So why is he doing it then? Easy. He even said why. He's doing it to shut people up. He called his lawsuit "a warning" to those with ideologies he opposes. Perhaps now they will "be a bit more careful with what they say and do."
8.In other words, LIBEL CHILL is Peterson's explicit intention. Win or lose, he will cost WLU headaches, time & money. Other universities will see that. They know JBP has young supporters on their campuses and they will seek to avoid similar imbroglios.
9.What would a big win for Peterson be here? In my opinion, it would be the emergence of new policies on campuses warning academics to watch what they say about voices and ideas they oppose, even behind closed doors.
