Sun Sep 15 15:01:15 UTC 2024: ## Jordan Peterson Launches “Anti-Woke” Online University, Faces New Ethics Complaints

Controversial psychologist Jordan Peterson has launched his own online “university,” the Peterson Academy, offering a curated selection of videos on topics like neuroscience and nutrition for a yearly fee of $499.99. The venture, which Peterson describes as a “return favor” for his “cancellation” from the University of Toronto, features an eight-hour lecture on Friedrich Nietzsche by Peterson himself, as well as content from other experts, mostly male.

While Peterson claims the Academy offers a “better quality experience” at a fraction of the cost of traditional universities, critics point out that the advertised 95% reduction in price is based on a comparison to expensive international student fees at the University of Toronto, where Peterson resigned in protest against diversity initiatives. Furthermore, the academy doesn’t offer traditional degrees or credentials, leaving students with a collection of videos instead.

The Academy’s launch comes at a time when Peterson is facing renewed ethical scrutiny from the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO). He is currently embroiled in a legal battle with the CPO over previous social media posts deemed offensive and unprofessional, including attacks on trans actor Elliot Page and a former patient. He faces new complaints regarding a tweet from over a year ago criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris’s speaking style, in which he uses the outdated and offensive term “retarded” to describe children with learning disabilities.

The tweet, published just hours before Harris debated her opponent, who has been diagnosed with cognitive impairment, highlights Peterson’s continued penchant for inflammatory rhetoric. Despite facing multiple ethics complaints and the potential loss of his psychologist license, Peterson continues to monetize his controversial views, seemingly undeterred by the backlash.

The Peterson Academy’s launch and Peterson’s latest ethical issues highlight a growing trend of figures like him capitalizing on their controversial views and utilizing online platforms to circumvent traditional academic institutions. While the Peterson Academy may offer a cheap alternative to traditional education, it also raises concerns about the quality and ethical implications of such ventures.

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