1793: Retribution

René Girard’s **mimetic theory** is a framework for understanding human behavior, culture, and society, rooted in the concept of **mimesis**—the tendency of individuals to imitate the desires and behaviors of others. Developed by the French philosopher, historian, and literary critic René Girard (1923–2015), the theory explores how imitation shapes human relationships, drives conflict, and underpins social and religious structures. Below is a concise explanation of its core components:

### 1. **Mimetic Desire**

- **Core Idea**: Humans don’t inherently know what to desire; instead, they imitate the desires of others (models). If someone sees another person valuing an object, status, or goal, they’re likely to adopt that desire themselves.

- **Example**: A child might want a toy not because of its intrinsic value but because another child wants it. Similarly, adults might pursue wealth, fame, or relationships because they observe others valuing them.

- **Implication**: This imitation creates a feedback loop, where desires intensify as more people compete for the same object or status, often leading to rivalry and conflict.

### 2. **Rivalry and Conflict**

- When multiple people desire the same thing (because of mimetic desire), competition arises. This can escalate into rivalry, jealousy, or even violence, as individuals or groups vie for the object of desire.

- The model (the person whose desire is imitated) often becomes a rival, especially if the desired object is scarce or exclusive (e.g., a romantic partner, a job, or social status).

- Girard argued that this dynamic explains much of human conflict, from personal disputes to societal upheavals.

### 3. **The Scapegoat Mechanism**

- **Resolution of Conflict**: To resolve escalating mimetic conflicts, societies often channel their collective frustration onto a single individual or group—the scapegoat. This scapegoat is blamed for the crisis and punished, unifying the community through shared hostility.

- **Example**: In ancient societies, scapegoats might have been ritually sacrificed to restore peace. In modern contexts, this can manifest as social ostracism, mob outrage, or targeting marginalized groups.

- **Outcome**: The scapegoat’s punishment temporarily resolves the conflict, reinforcing social cohesion, but the cycle of mimetic desire and rivalry eventually restarts.

### 4. **Religion and Culture**

- Girard posited that many cultural institutions, particularly religion, emerged from the scapegoat mechanism. Early rituals and myths often revolved around sacrificial acts to manage mimetic violence.

- Over time, these practices became codified into religious systems, laws, and social norms to prevent unchecked rivalry and maintain order.

- Christianity, in Girard’s view, is unique because it reveals the scapegoat mechanism’s injustice (e.g., through Jesus as an innocent victim), exposing the cycle of violence and urging a move toward non-violent imitation of compassion and love.

### 5. **Modern Applications**

- Mimetic theory applies to modern phenomena like consumerism, social media, and political polarization. For instance, social media amplifies mimetic desire by showcasing what others value (likes, followers, lifestyles), fueling competition and envy.

- It also explains group dynamics, such as cancel culture, where scapegoating emerges as a way to resolve social tensions by targeting an individual or idea.

### Why It Matters to Peter Thiel

Peter Thiel, a known admirer of Girard’s work, incorporates mimetic theory into his worldview, particularly in his analyses of business, technology, and culture. For example:

- In startups, Thiel emphasizes creating unique value to avoid “mimetic traps” where companies imitate competitors, leading to destructive rivalry (e.g., zero-sum competition in saturated markets).

- He sees societal trends, like political polarization or cultural fads, as driven by mimetic desire, where people adopt beliefs or behaviors to emulate influential models.

- His Christian-influenced heterodox views align with Girard’s interpretation of Christianity as a critique of scapegoating and a call for transcending mimetic rivalry.

### Key Takeaways

Girard’s mimetic theory suggests that human behavior is deeply interconnected through imitation, which drives both cooperation and conflict. By understanding these dynamics, we can better navigate personal desires, societal tensions, and cultural systems. The theory’s strength lies in its simplicity yet broad applicability, from ancient rituals to modern social phenomena.

If you’d like, I can dive deeper into specific aspects (e.g., its influence on Thiel’s investment philosophy or its critique of modern culture) or provide examples from literature or history where Girard applied his theory. Let me know!

Hi Adam,

Just catching up with last two NAs. Winston Marshall was the banjo player in Mumford and sons; his father is a billionaire and I suspect bankrolled the band before they broke through and got big. Then he said The Wrong Thing and they booted him out.

Here in the UK, it's worse than you & John think. Almost everyone I speak to with a decent job, business and family is despondent. They think the third world takeover is inevitable, every town now has half a dozen vape shops, Turkish barbers and Shawma take aways with no customers and big Mercs outside. The housing market is stalled, there are eight houses for sale on our small village high street, none have sold for months. Five years ago they'd have been gone within a month. Everything has gone up in price; food inflation is out of control, highest electricity prices in the world, property taxes jacked up and taxes on home value and inheritance threatened. Investors are putting their money abroad and in the City of London mergers and IPOs have flatlined, UK companies are listing in the US rather than London.

I speak to so many people who want out; I have never heard so many people who are looking for places at get their family and money out of the UK. We are.

Right, better get back into the garage where I'm laying down the keel for Mayflower 2. If you do decide to become a plumber, I'm a pretty good hand with pipe benders and a brazing torch.

Peter

Show 1793 was a great show!! Made sure the 13 and 11 year old listened to the portion on trade worker needs.

I’d like to bring to the NA family a notice about air traffic control job availability, there is currently an open “off the street” hiring for air traffic controllers. You don’t need a degree in ATC or a certificate from a CTI school, Obama in 2013 changing the hiring process that essentially anyone can apply. The requirements now are pretty basic, between ages 18-31, US Citizen, job history of 3+ consecutive years or any higher education degree, clean criminal record, English speaking (although I can tell you stories where that has been ignored). I will attached the posting for those interested for you to put in show notes.

For those interested in making a career off not letting dots crash together on a video game screen, making good money, full government pension, retirement, full health care benefits should apply. The process is enduring, as nothing moves fast in government regardless of what Duffy claims on the media. Go to USAjobs.gov and create a profile, build your resume on the website and apply to the Air traffic control posting. Air traffic controllers are still in desperate need the Biden administration’s actions in conjunction with the worthless pathetic union during COVID has cause a major set back in hiring and training. Who would have thought that when you pause training for two years, people still retire/quit/transfer.

The training process for ATC is not the easiest for those that can’t think critically or do basic math but is worth the paycheck and benefits at the end of the day. ATC has six basic functions, up/down, fast/slow, left/right, with one rule 5 miles and 1000’ standard separation with some fancy ways to say those six things in between.

PS: this is not intended to take away business from Linda Lu Duchess of jobs and writer of resumes.

TYFYC

The Anonymous Controller

Link

In the morning Adam, you discussed apprenticeships on the last show and I wanted to tell you about my experience with apprenticeships. I graduated from my CNC machining apprenticeship about 2 years ago and I can’t speak for other states but in Michigan there really starting to become more popular. Apprenticeships are regulated by the department of labor and they require you to work for a total of 8000 hours (which is roughly 4 years) and take classes at a trade school or college. In all of the classes I took, about 90% of the class were also apprentices from other shops. Lately at my shop we have been getting a ton of new apprentices straight from high school. When I was in high school I went to a trade school in the morning to learn machining and that is the only reason I found out about apprenticeships but now local high schools are starting to push trades as a valid alternative to college, which is something that I was never told in school I graduated in 2019 so not to long ago. Every year we have at least one day where local high schools tour our shop. Although apprenticeships are amazing and teach amazing skills the schools teach the trades in my experience suck. The trade school I went to in high school was fine they taught the basics but the college classes I took were terrible, I had learned everything most of the classes were teaching because I did it every day, the machining teacher didn’t have that much experience teaching or even machining he was only a couple years older than me. My shop one time hired some one with a degree in machining from the same school and he knew absolutely nothing about machining. The school never taught him the basics. My wife also had the same experience in the dental field where they didn’t teach her basic skills that she would need for assisting the dentist. In my experience the technical classes are way to big and the parts we run were super simple and only taught how to program not how to actually make correct parts. I do think everyone looking for a trade should find an apprenticeship instead of going to a college to learn the trade. I hope you find this helpful Adam and I don’t know if apprenticeship are as popular around the USA but they are definitely popular in the Lansing area. Most shops in the area offer apprenticeships or something close. God bless, and have a great day Adam. Sincerely, Tommy breakfluid

Adam,

Listening to today’s show, I wanted to inform y’all of a school we’ve created in our county (Baldwin County, AL) that teaches kids/whoever the trades in replacement of traditional college. It bypasses apprenticeship. Check it out.

[https://www.baldwinprep.com/academics/programs-of-study](https://www.baldwinprep.com/academics/programs-of-study)

ITM gents,

I was one of the youngsters who took up the call for skilled tradesmen. I can confirm that after finishing an electrical apprenticeship the jobs are plentiful and everywhere. And as a journeyman wireman now training apprentices, there’s a lot of young cats joining the trades straight out of high school. It’s encouraging to see even if the work ethic isn’t always up to standards.

Thank you for your courage!