A new selection of foundational works from the influential philosopher who developed the theory of mimetic desire
Why do humans have such a remarkable capacity for conflict? From ancient foundational myths to the modern era, the visionary thinker Rene Girard identified the constant, competing desires at the heart of our existence - desires that we copy from others, igniting a contagious violence. This remarkable and accessible new selection of Girard's work shows him as a writer for our times, as he ranges over human imitation and rivalry, herd behaviour, scapegoating and how our violent longings play out in stories, from Shakespeare to religion.
'The explosion of social media, the resurgence of populism, and the increasing virulence of reciprocal violence all suggest that the contemporary world is becoming more and more recognizably "Girardian" in its behaviour' The New York Review of Books
Edited with an Introduction by Cynthia L. Haven
| ISBN: | 9780241543238 |
| Publication date: | 29th June 2023 |
| Author: | René Girard |
| Publisher: | Penguin Classics an imprint of Penguin Books Ltd |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 352 pages |
| Series: | Penguin Modern Classics |
| Genres: |
Social and political philosophy Cultural studies Sociology Anthropology European history Literary theory |