The Theory of René Girard: A Very Simple Introduction - Softcover

Osborn, Carly

 
9780646960425: The Theory of René Girard: A Very Simple Introduction
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0646960423 ISBN 13: 9780646960425
Publisher: various Australia publishers, 2017

Synopsis

This book is a brief introduction to the theory of René Girard, written in a humorous, accessible style, and accompanied by cartoon illustrations by the author.

René Girard (1923–2015) was a French historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science, whose work belongs to the tradition of anthropological philosophy.

His theories and work have influenced the fields of literary criticism, critical theory, anthropology, theology, psychology, mythology, sociology, economics, cultural studies, and philosophy.

Girard's fundamental ideas were that desire is imitative in origin (‘mimetic’); that mimetic desire causes rivalry and violence, leading to scapegoating; that the scapegoat mechanism is the origin of sacrifice and ritual, and thus the foundation of human culture; that religion developed from ritual; and that the Judeo-Christian Bible denounces the scapegoat mechanism.

If you’d like to understand the basics of the theory of René Girard without delving into a serious academic text, then this book was written for you. It also has knights in armour, Batman, Greek tragedy, and hats.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review

“This is a fantastic introduction to mimetic theory: simple without being simplistic, accurate, and beautifully put together. I wish I’d written this.”
— Dr Chris Fleming, author of René Girard: Violence and Mimesis

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
various Australia publishers
Publication date
2017
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0646960423
ISBN 13 
9780646960425
Binding
Paperback
Number of pages
52