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

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... See more

Ruby Justice Thelot • In Praise of Gatekeeping

ssari

the gatekeeper is the reminder that culture requires labor and that access is not a right, it must be earned

Peter Thiel’s Religion

David Perell perell.com

sari

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

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

sari

Luke Burgis: The Power of Mimetic Desire [The Knowledge Project Ep. #138]

Shane Parrish fs.blog

Juan Orbea

The Orthodoxy of Heterodoxy

Luke Burgis read.lukeburgis.com

Juan Orbea

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

— Oscar Wilde

andrea

The Straussian Moment

gwern.net

Juan Orbea