This article is an excerpt from the Shortform summary of "12 Rules for Life" by Jordan Peterson.

What Is Jordan Peterson’s Meaning?

OK, so we lack meaning today. But how do we find it? How do we define what’s good and worth doing, and what isn’t?

In 12 Rules for Life, Peterson tackles meaning this way: it seems intuitively true that certain things can be defined as Evil – most abhorrently, conscious human malevolence. Auschwitz, mass shootings, enslavement, knowing torment of others – these are all things most people believe are bad, even without having to read a philosophy book. You likely believe the world is better off without these things happening.

If there is such a thing as Evil, then Good must be the antithesis of Evil – Good is whatever stops Evil from happening. Good alleviates unnecessary pain and suffering.

https://www.shortform.com/blog/jordan-peterson-meaning/