Things Hidden Since the Foundations of the World
* Book: Things Hidden Since the Foundations of the World. By Rene Girard.
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Description
Jonathan Bi:
"Book 1 details Girard’s ambitious philosophy of history which argues that mimesis — the fundamental drive of man to imitate — is the main driver of history. On the social-historical scale, mimesis manifests itself as the “victimage mechanism” — the main engine of historical progress that has lead us from animal to man to hierarchical societies to liberal societies and eventually to our impending apocalypse.
Book 2 is an exegesis of the New Testament. Through the lens of mimesis, Girard presents a non-sacrificial reading of the Gospels, and argues that it alone is the legitimate and true religion because it alone reveals and does not participate in the satanic force of the aforementioned “victimage mechanism“.
Book 3 is an application of mimesis into our social and psychological spheres. It should be of special interest for anyone interested in understanding the mechanisms behind: competition, innovation, jealousy, love, depression, fulfillment, hypnosis, and violence.
Things Hidden is so fascinating because it is so reductive. Through the seemingly innocuous capacity of imitation, Girard provides answers to all the following questions in an often exaggerated but nonetheless revealing fashion:
“What are the foundations of religion?”
“What are the foundations of the state?”
“What are the foundations of language?”
“What is the connection between political authority and religion?“
“Why is there violence amongst those who are similar?”
“What makes humans different from animals?”
“Why are we both capable of so much violence and sustained periods of peace?”
“Why is history littered with examples of unjust scapegoating?“
“How can the value of equality harm us?“
“How can the value of individualism harm us?“
“What are some mistakes of the enlightenment?“
“Are we headed towards apocalypse?”
“What is special about Christianity?”
“Is the Christian God violent?”
“Is there a connection between love and truth?”
“Why is there mob mentality?”
“What are the foundations for prestige?”
“Why do we desire certain things and not others?”
“What are the conditions for sado-masochism?”
“What are the conditions for homosexuality?”
“What are the conditions for narcissism?”
“Why are we so obsessed with others?”
“Why are we often not fulfilled by the objects we desire so strongly?”
(https://johnathanbi.com/book-notes-summaries/things-hidden-since-the-foundations-of-the-world)