European Intellectual History since Nietzsche

Class 20: Violence and the Sacred: René Girard

41 snips
Feb 7, 2024
Dive into the provocative ideas of René Girard, exploring how violence intertwines with the sacred. Discover the intriguing concept of mimetic desire, revealing how our wants often mirror those around us, leading to rivalry and conflict. Unpack the role of the scapegoat in unifying societies through sacrifice, while contrasting Girard's views with those of structuralism's Claude Lévi-Strauss. Personal anecdotes illuminate these complex theories, showcasing their relevance to cultural stability and human experience.
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ANECDOTE

First Encounter With Girard

  • Marci Shore recalls meeting Girard at Stanford and finding him terrifying at first.
  • She describes the seminar's ominous gravitas and the cult-like atmosphere around his circle.
INSIGHT

Meaning Is Relational, Not Intrinsic

  • Meaning is relational, not intrinsic, and only exists within a system of differences.
  • Structural wholeness is synchronic: parts gain value by their relations to other parts.
INSIGHT

Girard Seeks Reality Beneath Form

  • Girard accepts structuralist premises but insists on an anterior reality beneath symbolic form.
  • He wants to penetrate structures to reach the real human causes under myths.
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