Philosophy and Theology: Mimetic desire explained by René Girard

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Mimetic desire explained by René Girard

Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: Scholarly Pursuits
Forum Name: Philosophy and Theology
Forum Discription: Topics relating to philosophy
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31535
Printed Date: 25-Apr-2024 at 06:24
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Topic: Mimetic desire explained by René Girard

Posted By: Leroy
Subject: Mimetic desire explained by René Girard
Date Posted: 08-Apr-2012 at 23:20

"As simple as it sounds it explains everything."

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In this interview French historian and philosopher http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Girard - René Girard explains the imitative nature of desire and its consequences, and how all conflict is based on mimetic rivalry and is resolved by the scapegoat or sacrificial mechanism. He also explains how the scapegoat theme in http://www.firstthings.com/article/2007/10/002-are-the-gospels-mythical-11 - mythology is different from Christianity.

Mimetic or (the unconscious) imitative desire really does seem to explain our conflicted human nature. The mimetic theory fits in perfectly with the Christian understanding of the human condition, but it is not at all limited to the Christian scenario and should be interesting to everyone.

Introduction to the mimetic theory (difficult to navigate website...):

http://www.cottet.org/girard/desir1.en.htm - http://www.cottet.org/girard/desir1.en.htm

Interview with interesting comments on the scapegoat mechanism and the origin of language:

http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/AP0201/interv.htm - http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/AP0201/interv.htm