Mimetic Desire

The mimetic theory of desire, an explanation of human behavior and culture, originated with the French historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science René Girard (1923-2015). The name of the theory derives from the philosophical concept mimesis, which carries a wide range of meanings. In mimetic theory, mimesis refers to human desire, which Girard thought was not linear but the product of a mimetic process in which people imitate models who endow objects with value. "Man is the creature who does not know what to desire, and he turns to others in order to make up his mind. We desire what others desire because we imitate their desires."

Juan Orbea and

Man is the creature who does not know what to desire, and he turns to others in order to make up his mind. We desire what others desire because we imitate their desires

Ruby Justice Thelot • In Praise of Gatekeeping

sari added 15d

These are two very different modes of cultural interaction. Charli’s approach invites participation: the memes exist for remixing, the portrayed scene and its participants exist to be followed and engaged with on social media—the culture of Brat is open and participatory, giving anyone a ticket to join the global digital party. Kendrick, on the oth... See more

Ruby Justice Thelot • In Praise of Gatekeeping

sari added 15d

sari added 4mo

Memetic premium is a phenomenon in which people attribute higher monetary value to an idea because they:

1. See other people value an idea as well

2. Expect more people to value the idea

Alara added 9mo

"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.”

— Oscar Wilde

andrea added 10mo

I know this is controversial talk and antithetical to the success mantras of the metric obsessed, performative, materialistic, linear, Key Performance Indicator driven world we live in, but someone needs to play the role of the annoying child who questions lazily adhered to and potentially harmful conventions, if only to stress-test them. I mean, w... See more

Thomas J Bevan • On New Year's Resolutions

sari added 1y

The most successful founders in history did not have the mimetic contagion gene that was in constant pursuit of social validation and that would have influenced them to build the things that everyone else was building

Patrick O'Shaughnessy • Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy on Apple Podcasts

sari added 1y

One philosophical objection I have to Silicon Valley is that people are very derivative. They tend to rely too much on what other people do. When everyone relies on what everyone else does, you end up getting a deeply mimetic-culture where no one thinks for themselves.

phoebe added 1y

“The modern man is always claiming a self-sufficiency which he is unable to achieve. He constantly compares himself with other people and, afraid that they might be superior, he secretly copies their manners and borrows their desires.”

Leo Nasskau • René Girard, mimetic desire, and society's biggest rat race

Leo Nasskau added 1y

Because desire is mimetic, people are naturally drawn to want what others want. ‘Two desires converging on the same object are bound to clash,’ writes Girard. This means that mimetic desire often leads people into unnecessary competition and rivalry with one another in an infernal game of status anxiety.

Aeon • How to Know What You Really Want | Psyche Guides

Stuart Evans added 1y