https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Girard
Girard's main contribution to philosophy, and in turn to other disciplines, was in the psychology of desire. Girard claimed that human desire functions imitatively, or mimetically, rather than arising as the spontaneous byproduct of human individuality, as much of theoretical psychology had assumed.
Mimetic theory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimetic_theory
Was Rene Girard’s mimetic theory, and the psychology of desire, influenced by Lacan? (ChatGPT, 2025-1-4)
René Girard’s mimetic theory and his ideas about the psychology of desire share conceptual parallels with Jacques Lacan’s theory of desire, but the relationship is more one of indirect influence and convergence rather than Girard being explicitly influenced by Lacan.
Key Points of Comparison:
1. Desire as Mimetic (Girard) vs. Desire as Mediated by the Other (Lacan)
• Girard: Desire is fundamentally mimetic—people desire what others desire because they imitate others. For Girard, desire is not autonomous but arises from observing and imitating others, leading to competition and conflict.
• Lacan: Desire is structured by the symbolic order and is always mediated by the “Other.” The subject’s desire is the desire of the Other, meaning that desire is shaped by what we perceive others to want or value.
While both thinkers emphasize the relational and mediated nature of desire, Lacan’s framework is rooted in psychoanalysis and the linguistic turn, whereas Girard approaches the topic through anthropology and literature.
2. Triangular Desire (Girard) and the Imaginary/Symbolic (Lacan)
• Girard’s triangular model of desire (subject, mediator, object) aligns in some ways with Lacan’s imaginary and symbolic relationships. However, Girard’s focus is on the dynamics of rivalry and scapegoating, while Lacan explores the psychic structures underpinning desire.
3. Conflict and Violence
• Girard’s mimetic desire inevitably leads to rivalry and violence, which he elaborates on through his scapegoat mechanism and theories of sacrifice.
• Lacan, though less focused on societal violence, discusses the inherent lack in the subject and the endless deferral of desire, which can result in anxiety and existential tension.
Influence?
Girard did not explicitly cite Lacan as an influence, and their intellectual contexts were somewhat different. Girard’s mimetic theory evolved from his study of literary texts, anthropology, and religion, while Lacan’s theories emerged from his reinterpretation of Freud through structural linguistics and philosophy. However:
• Both were active in France in the mid-20th century, meaning they were part of overlapping intellectual milieus.
• It is plausible that Girard encountered Lacan’s ideas indirectly through French intellectual circles, but there is no direct evidence of Girard being deeply engaged with Lacan’s work.
Divergences:
Girard diverged from Lacan in his view of the resolution of mimetic conflict. Girard’s emphasis on the scapegoat mechanism as a means of resolving societal tension contrasts with Lacan’s focus on individual psychic structures and symbolic processes.
Conclusion:
While Girard and Lacan share some overlapping concerns about the relational and mediated nature of desire, Girard’s theory is better understood as running parallel to, rather than being directly influenced by, Lacan. The resemblance reflects shared intellectual currents in mid-20th-century French thought rather than a direct borrowing of ideas.
