Understanding Rene Girard's Mimetic Theory
In Rene Girard's Mimetic Theory, the concept of 'mimetic desire' refers to the way in which individuals imitate the desires of others. This can lead to conflict and violence when multiple individuals or groups imitate each other's desires and become locked in a cycle of rivalry.
For example, imagine two children playing in a sandbox. One child picks up a toy and starts playing with it, and the other child suddenly becomes interested in the toy and wants to play with it too. This is an example of mimetic desire, where one child imitates the desire of the other child. However, if the first child becomes upset that the second child wants to play with their toy, they may become locked in a cycle of rivalry, each imitating the other's desire to play with the toy. This can escalate into a conflict, with each child trying to take the toy from the other, and potentially even into violence.
Mimetic desire can also lead to scapegoating, where a group or individual is blamed for a conflict or problem that arises from mimetic desire. For example, in the case of the two children fighting over the toy, one of them may be blamed for causing the conflict, even though both were imitating each other's desire to play with the toy.
To better understand the concept of mimetic desire and its role in conflict and violence, students may want to read Girard's book, 'Violence and the Sacred', or his essay, 'Mimesis and Violence'. Other recommended readings include 'The Girard Reader', edited by James Williams, and 'The Scapegoat', also by Girard.
It is important to note that while Girard's theory can provide helpful insights into understanding the origins of conflict and violence, it is not a comprehensive theory of human behavior, and should be considered alongside other theories and perspectives.
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