Author and professor Luke Burgis enlightens listeners on mimetic theory, discussing human desires, tribalism, and violence. Topics include nepotism, institutional failures, mob mentalities, and the importance of institutions in society.
Mimetic desire leads to rivalry and conflict as humans imitate shared desires.
Scapegoating unites societies against individuals or groups without positive models.
Institutions impose rules to regulate behavior and prevent chaos, shaping character and maintaining coherence.
Deep dives
Rene Girard and Mimetic Desire
Rene Girard, a French academic, introduced the concept of mimetic desire, which suggests that humans imitate the desires of others. This theory challenges the belief that human desires are autonomous, highlighting that desires are socially formed in relationships. Girard's theory explains that mimetic desire leads to rivalry and conflict as individuals compete for shared desires.
Scapegoating and Forgiveness
In Girard's view, scapegoating occurs in societies lacking shared positive models and leads to blame placed on a single individual or group. This process unites people against the scapegoat, providing a cathartic effect. However, Girard emphasizes forgiveness as a necessary countermeasure to combat cycles of violence initiated by scapegoating, serving as an escape from escalating violence.
Institutions and Violence
Girard suggests that institutions, symbolized by the pyramid, entail a form of restraint or coercion to regulate human behavior. Behind seemingly benevolent institutions lies a necessity to impose rules and channel rivalries, influencing individual desires. Institutions serve to shape character and prevent chaos by offering structured guidelines for behavior.
The Role of Institutions and Membership Expectations
Using institutions like the NFL or the Marine Corps as examples, the importance of individuals adhering to the rules and expectations of an institution to maintain internal coherence is highlighted. The podcast discusses how institutions that demand more from their members tend to thrive, while those with lower expectations disintegrate. The concept of expecting the most from members to maintain the institution's integrity is exemplified through the success of institutions like the Marines and orthodox branches of Judaism.
The Impact of Gerard's Work on Understanding Social Dynamics
The podcast delves into how Gerard's theories illuminate tribal dynamics and accelerations such as cancel culture, emphasizing the tendency in human behavior to use violence to eradicate perceived threats. It examines the phenomenon of status competition and the role of positional goods in driving conflicts. Additionally, it touches on the critique that Gerard's work can lead to over-intellectualization and moral flattening, cautioning against reducing complex human interactions solely to mimetic analysis.
Luke Burgis, author and professor of business at the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship, grants Jonah a well-deserved break from punditry with a crash course in mimetic theory. René Girard takes center stage as Luke and Jonah discuss the roots of human desire; how such desires lead to tribalism, conflict, and violence; and the relationship between mimetic processes and social discord. Scapegoats and gossip abound as Luke schools both high-minded Remnant listeners and theoretical normies on the psychology of nepotism, institutional debacles, and mob mentalities.
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