54 Questions
What is the core concept that René Girard's mimetic theory is based on?
Imitation and reciprocity
How does the immediacy of information in modern times facilitate mimetic processes?
By facilitating the diffusion of images and imitation
What is a key aspect of modernity that Girard's mimetic theory seeks to explain?
The growth of capitalism
What is the focus of Girard's study of modernity?
The role of imitation in shaping modern society
What is the relationship between modern connectivity and cultural differences, according to Girard's theory?
Connectivity reinforces the awareness of cultural differences
What is the title of Girard's work that applies his mimetic theory to the study of society and politics?
Sketches of a Mimetic Anthropology of Society and Politics
What is the primary focus of René Girard's mimetic theory in the context of social and political science?
Highlighting the role of models in shaping individual desires
According to Girard's mimetic anthropology, what occurs during social crises?
Imitative desire spills out of control, leading to mimetic rivalries
What is the relationship between models and individual desires in mimetic theory?
Models shape individual desires, making them non-autonomous
What is the significance of the concept of 'mimetic doubles' in Girard's theory?
It describes the rivalry between individuals, where each becomes a model-obstacle to the other
What does mimetic theory suggest about individuality and authenticity?
There is no authenticity or individuality without prior models
What is the relationship between space and desire in mimetic theory?
The space between individuals is crucial for mobility of desire
According to René Girard's mimetic theory, what is a primary factor in the formation of power and political order throughout history?
The scapegoating mechanism
What is a key distinction between mythology and the Gospels, according to Girard's theory?
Mythology is based on violence, while the Gospels are based on innocence
What does mimetic theory contribute to our understanding of social crises, according to Girard?
It explains the formation of social crises, including international wars and conflicts
What is the focus of Girard's 'Sketches of a Mimetic Anthropology of Society and Politics'?
The application of mimetic theory to society and politics
How does the Gospels' perspective on victims differ from that of pagan rituals, according to Girard?
The Gospels portray victims as innocent, while pagan rituals justify their sacrifice
What is the relationship between mimetic theory and the study of modernity, according to Girard?
Mimetic theory is a theory of social change
In the context of mimetic theory, the escalation of global terrorism is fueled by the narratives of victimhood and defender against aggression.
True
The modern world has seen a decline in violent conflicts due to the growing tendency to see oneself as a victim.
False
René Girard's mimetic anthropology suggests that human sacrifices are rightly blamed for the growing tendency to see oneself as a victim.
False
The concept of mimetic doubles is central to understanding the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
True
Girard's mimetic theory suggests that the growing tendency to see oneself as a victim is a result of the decline of sacrificial protection.
True
The concept of collective victimhood is a key factor in the escalation of new wars.
True
The polarity in 'low-intensity' new wars is driven by self-representations of collective triumph mobilizing social emotions.
False
According to mimetic theory, the identity of conflict emerges from the intentional decisions of individual leaders.
False
What appears asymmetrical from the outside view in mimetic rivalry is revealed as symmetrical from the inside view.
False
Historical shift from suspicion towards trauma, to inauthenticity of trauma: victimhood becomes sacred.
False
Mimetic anthropology focuses on the sacrificial protection of victims in modern societies.
False
Social representations of collective triumph have been increasingly used to initiate and justify warlike acts.
False
Narratives of victimhood often emphasize the role of individual agency in conflicts.
False
Genealogies of sacred victimhood are a key concept in René Girard's mimetic anthropology.
True
New wars are characterized by a shift towards heroic sacrifice and triumphant victimhood.
False
Mimetic anthropology suggests that the narrative of collective victimhood is a unifying force in modern societies.
False
Mimetic theory suggests that victimhood is a collective process that applies to categories previously not thought of as victims.
True
René Girard's mimetic theory explains the role of moral factors in the genealogies of sacred victimhood.
True
What is the primary driver of the polarity in 'low-intensity' new wars, according to René Girard's mimetic theory?
Self-representations of collective victimhood mobilizing social emotions
What is the implication of the historical shift from suspicion towards trauma, according to Girard's mimetic anthropology?
Victimhood becomes sacred
What is the role of social representations of collective victimhood in modern conflicts, according to Girard's mimetic theory?
They are used to initiate and justify warlike acts
What is the relationship between asymmetry and symmetry in mimetic rivalry, according to Girard's mimetic theory?
What appears asymmetrical from the inside view is revealed as symmetrical from the outside view
What is the significance of genealogies of sacred victimhood in René Girard's mimetic anthropology?
They are a key concept in understanding the narratives of victimhood in modern societies
What is the focus of René Girard's mimetic anthropology in the context of modernity?
The study of modernity, particularly the role of victimhood and collective representations in modern conflicts
How do narratives of victimhood and defender against aggression contribute to the escalation of global terrorism, according to mimetic theory?
These narratives legitimize acts of violence and retaliation by portraying oneself as a victim.
What is the paradox of the modern world, according to René Girard's mimetic theory?
The attention to the victim and the growing tendency to see oneself as a victim.
How does the concept of mimetic doubles relate to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, according to Girard's theory?
The conflict is fueled by the self-representations of the rivals as victims and defenders against aggression.
What is the significance of sacrificial protection in modern societies, according to Girard's mimetic theory?
Its decline leads to the growing tendency to see oneself as a victim, depriving the modern world of protection.
What is the role of collective victimhood in new wars, according to mimetic theory?
It is a key factor in the escalation of new wars, as it creates a sense of collective identity and mobilizes social emotions.
How does mimetic anthropology approach the study of social crises, according to Girard's theory?
It focuses on the role of narratives of victimhood and collective victimhood in fuelling conflicts and social crises.
How does mimetic theory suggest that collective victimhood emerges and contributes to the initiation of hostilities?
According to mimetic theory, collective victimhood provides a moral right for the initiation of hostilities against others through self-attributed collective victimhood.
What role do moral factors play in the genealogies of sacred victimhood, according to mimetic theory?
Moral factors, such as the mass slaughter in the two world wars, shifted the moral center of gravity in warfare from triumphant and heroic sacrifice to cultural traumas and victimhood.
How does mimetic anthropology view the concept of sacrifice in relation to victimhood?
Mimetic anthropology suggests that sacrificial protection has been replaced by the concept of sacred victimhood, which is used to justify warlike acts.
What is the primary characteristic of new wars, according to mimetic theory?
New wars are characterized by a shift towards collective victimhood and the use of narratives of victimhood to justify violence.
How does mimetic theory view the role of individual agency in conflicts?
Mimetic theory suggests that individual agency is not the primary driver of conflicts, but rather competing sacred representations of victimhood.
What is the relationship between mimetic theory and the study of modernity, in the context of victimhood?
Mimetic theory suggests that the study of modernity is closely tied to the emergence of collective victimhood and the use of narratives of victimhood to justify violence.
Explore the concept of mimetic anthropology and its relation to modernity, focusing on the 2nd pillar of Girard's mimetic theory and the significance of the Gospels in shaping civilization. Delve into the distinction between myths and the Gospels, and how Christianity's perspective on violence differs from pagan rituals.
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