First published in French in 1979, “The Ambivalence of Scarcity” was a groundbreaking work on mimetic theory. Now expanded upon with new, specially written, and never-before-published conference texts and essays, this revised edition explores René Girard’s philosophy in three sections: economy and economics, mimetic theory, and violence and politics in modern societies. The first section argues that though mimetic theory is in many ways critical of modern economic theory, this criticism can contribute to the enrichment of economic thinking. The second section explores the issues of nonviolence and misrecognition (méconnaissance), which have been at the center of many discussions of Girard’s work. The final section proposes mimetic analyses of the violence typical of modern societies, from high school bullying to genocide and terrorist attacks. Politics, Dumouchel argues, is a violent means of protecting us from our own violent tendencies, and it can at times become the source of the very savagery from which it seeks to protect us. The book’s conclusion analyzes the relationship between ethics and economics, opening new avenues of research and inviting further exploration. Dumouchel’s introduction reflects on the importance of René Girard’s work in relation to ongoing research, especially in social sciences and philosophy.
ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart 1. On Economy and EconomicsThe Ambivalence of ScarcityIndifference and Envy: Girard and the Anthropological Analysis of Modern EconomyA Mimetic Rereading of Helmut Schoeck’s Envy: A Theory of Social BehaviourHomo mimeticus as an Economic AgentPart 2. On Mimetic TheoryMimetism and AutonomyViolence and NonviolenceDifferences and Paradoxes: Reflections on Love and Violence in Girard’s WorkCreation and Conversion in GirardMimetic Theory: Concepts and Models“De la méconnaissance”Part 3. On Violence and Politics in Modern SocietiesHobbes: The Sovereignty RaceIjimeFrom Scapegoat to GodViolence and IndifferenceMimetism and GenocidesSuicide Attacks: Military and Social AspectsInside Out: Political Violence in the Age of GlobalizationConclusion: Ethics, Economics, and the StateNotesBibliographyIndex