Mimetic rivalry intensifies metaphysical desire through competition and resentment.
Gerard's theodicy attributes human evil to metaphysical desire, accepting evil as intrinsic to humanity.
Metaphysical desire leads to a cycle of lack and bipolarity, fueling a form of masochism.
Deep dives
Understanding Gerard's Work and Memetic Rivalry
Gerard's work challenges modern understandings of human nature, highlighting flaws in the homo-economicus framework. He emphasizes that humans are motivated by desires beyond utility, such as glory, social belonging, and rivalry. This challenges the traditional view of rational, utility-maximizing agents in social structures. Memetic rivalry leads to competition and the amplification of metaphysical desire, blurring the lines between subject and model.
The Influence of Mimetic Desire and Mediation
Mimetic desire involves imitating others and striving for a sense of fullness in being. Mediation can be unidirectional or bidirectional, leading to mimicry and competition. The concept of internal mediation explores how individuals compete over shared objects, while external mediation involves influence from a distance. Social and spatial distances shape the dynamics of mediation, influencing desires and rivalries.
The Role of Mimetic Rivalry in Inflaming Metaphysical Desire
Mimetic rivalry intensifies metaphysical desire through reciprocal reinforcement and competition. Losing in rivalry leads to shame and a heightened desire for being, driving individuals to strive for status and success. The competitive nature of mimetic rivalry fosters resentment, attributing malicious intent to rivals and fueling a desire to diminish the other's existence.
Negative Mimesis and Social Influence
Negative mimesis pushes individuals away from traits associated with perceived deficiency in others, leading to polarization and aversion. The social determinants of behavior influence reactions to peers and groups, highlighting the complexity of individual autonomy and social conformity. Gerard's psychology challenges the notion of individual freedom and emphasizes the pervasive influence of social interactions on human behavior.
Metaphysical Desire and External Object Obsession
The podcast delves into the concept of metaphysical desire, where individuals project their inner sense of wholeness onto external objects, believing that acquiring these objects will bring fulfillment. This desire creates a perpetual feeling of lack, leading to bipolarity characterized by oscillations between manic pride and deep despair. The cycle of desire and unattainability results in the obsession with difficult-to-obtain objects, leading to a form of masochism that confuses difficulty with goodness.
Gerard's Theodicy and Reconciliation with Evil
Gerard's theodicy attributes human evil to metaphysical desire, emphasizing that pathologies are inherent to human nature. Unlike other theodicies, Gerard suggests that evil is unavoidable and will only intensify over time. This worldview encourages a tranquil acceptance of existence, accepting evil as an intrinsic part of human nature. By understanding the inevitability of pathologies, Gerard's theodicy limits the potency of critical theories that aim for revolutionary change, advocating for interpretation over drastic societal transformation.
In this lecture, we will finish painting the picture of Girardian psychology by understanding mimetic rivalry and negative mimesis. This picture will expose humans as fallen and certain psycho-social pathologies as inevitable: fetishization, alienation, bipolarity, masochism, oppression, and inequity. Girard’s psychology, then, is also a theodicy — an inquiry into the origins of evil. For Girard, evil is not contingent on poorly designed societies but an inevitable consequence of corrupt human nature. We will never escape these pathologies no matter how much social “progress” is made. Girard’s theodicy tampers our expectations of the world and inoculates us against a whole host of, what we can loosely call, critical theories. This is a critique of critique. Some links to further guide your study:
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