What is Mimetic Theory? Philosophies of René Girard with Luke Burgis | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Luke discusses his journey as a founder and builder, highlighting the importance of mimetic desire in entrepreneurship and the need for self-awareness in navigating it.

Key Insights

• 🪗 Desire is largely influenced by contagion from others, according to mimetic theory.
• ❓ Understanding and recognizing one's own mimetic desires is crucial for personal and professional growth.
• ❓ Scapegoating is a common mechanism used to deflect blame and create temporary unity within societies.
• 💨 Technology, such as social media, both amplifies and diffuses memetic desire, impacting society in complex ways.
• ❓ The study of mimetic desire has implications for entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal relationships.
• 📺 Successful companies effectively generate memetic desire for their vision of the future.
• 🤳 The balance between action and contemplation is essential for entrepreneurs' well-being and self-discovery.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How did Luke's understanding of mimetic desire help him in his entrepreneurial journey?

Luke's understanding of mimetic desire allowed him to recognize and navigate the external influences on his desires, enabling him to make more intentional choices as a founder.

Q: How did Luke reconcile conflicting models of entrepreneurship and leadership?

Luke struggled to find a single model of entrepreneurship that embodied all the qualities he aspired to. He looked to various figures, such as Steve Jobs, Tony Hsieh, and even saints, to shape his own vision of entrepreneurship.

Q: What role does mimetic desire play in generating memetic desire for a company's vision?

According to Luke, every successful company must generate memetic desire by creating a vision of the future that inspires others. Founders need to be skilled at generating memetic desire in order to attract the right people to their team and drive the company's growth.

Q: How does scapegoating relate to mimetic desire?

Gerard's theory of mimetic desire suggests that scapegoating occurs when societies or communities transfer blame onto an outsider or a single entity, providing temporary catharsis. This cycle can be broken through self-awareness and understanding of mimetic desire's influence.

Summary

In this video, Luke Burgis discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and his introduction to Rene Girard's concept of mimetic desire. He shares how mimetic desire, the idea that our desires are influenced by those around us, helped him make sense of his own experiences as an entrepreneur and understand the forces driving him. Luke also explores the negative and positive aspects of memetic desire, the role of scapegoating in society, and the importance of self-reflection and contemplation for entrepreneurs.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Luke first hear about the concept of mimetic desire?

Luke first heard about the concept of mimetic desire through Rene Girard's work. He was searching for a better understanding of entrepreneurship and stumbled upon Girard's theories, which resonated with his own experiences and the dynamics he observed in the startup world.

Q: Can mimetic desire be understood as a social process and how does it influence our desires?

Mimetic desire is indeed a social process. According to Girard, our desires are often caught by contagion from the people around us, whom Girard refers to as models of desire. While we may be conscious of some of these models, most of them operate on an unconscious level. This means that our desires are influenced by others more than we realize.

Q: How did Luke navigate the conflicting models of entrepreneurship he aspired to?

Luke explains that he couldn't find a single model of entrepreneurship that embodied everything he wanted to be. While figures like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk had certain qualities he admired, they didn't capture the complete picture. Luke found inspiration from various sources, including entrepreneurs, great thinkers like Brene Brown, and even religious figures like Saint Francis of Assisi. He realized that reconciling these different models and integrating their qualities was crucial in his entrepreneurial journey.

Q: How does positive memetic desire play a role in building successful companies?

Positive memetic desire involves generating desire for a vision of the future or a mission that a company seeks to achieve. Luke argues that every great company that aims to do good must generate memetic desire for its vision among its team members and potential users. By effectively creating desire for the future they envision, founders can attract the right people and build a successful company.

Q: How does scapegoating fit into Girard's theory of mimetic desire?

According to Girard, societies often resort to scapegoating when faced with memetic rivalries and crises. Scapegoating involves blaming and expelling an outsider or a specific individual as a way to shift blame and temporarily unify the community. Luke points out that scapegoating can also happen within companies, where individuals may not be willing to take responsibility for their own memetic desires and instead project them onto someone else.

Q: Can awareness of memetic desire help break the cycle of violence and conflict?

Yes, awareness of memetic desire is the first step in breaking the cycle of violence and conflict. Recognizing one's own mimetic impulses and understanding that desires are often borrowed from others allows individuals to take more responsibility for their actions and avoid falling into the trap of blame and scapegoating. By becoming more aware and intentional about their desires and the models they imitate, individuals can break free from destructive cycles and foster healthier relationships.

Q: How does technology, especially social media, impact memetic desire?

Technology, particularly social media, has both positive and negative effects on memetic desire. On one hand, it diffuses memetic violence and rivalry by allowing desires to be expressed and shared in various online spaces. On the other hand, social media platforms profit from engagement and memetic desire, often leading to negative forms of mimesis and rivalry. Understanding the different forms of memetic desire facilitated by technology is crucial in harnessing positive mimesis for building great things.

Q: How can one reconcile different models of desire and create a healthy human ecology?

Luke explains that it takes time and reflection to reconcile and integrate different models of desire. By going back to first principles and examining the kind of person they aspire to be, individuals can establish a healthy human ecology. This involves understanding the relationships humans have with technology, family and friends, the environment, other people, and themselves. Luke emphasizes that healthy relationships and a focus on fundamental human problems contribute to a healthy human ecology.

Q: How did Luke's contemplative period influence his entrepreneurial journey?

Luke realized the importance of contemplation and reflection during his entrepreneurial journey. He recognized a tension in himself and a thirst for ideas that needing to be addressed. To reconcile this, he engaged in re-education and deep diving into philosophy, theology, and classic literature. This process of understanding first principles and developing the kind of entrepreneur and person he wanted to be took several years. The contemplative period helped him find his path and ultimately led him to write his book, "Wanting: The Book of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life."

Q: Where can Luke's book be found?

Luke's book, "Wanting: The Book of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life," can be found on Luke's website (lukeburgis.com) or through various sources such as bookshop.org and Amazon.

Takeaways

Girard's concept of mimetic desire offers a powerful framework for understanding our own desires and the social dynamics that influence them. Recognizing that our desires are often borrowed from others can help us become more intentional and conscious in our choices. Scapegoating, a common response to memetic rivalries, can be destructive and deflects responsibility. Breaking the cycle of violence and conflict begins with self-awareness and taking responsibility for our desires. Technology, like social media, plays both positive and negative roles in memetic desire. The journey of personal reconciliation and contemplation is crucial for entrepreneurs to develop a healthy human ecology. By understanding and harnessing positive memetic desire, founders can generate desire for their vision and attract the right people to build successful companies.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Luke initially pursued a career in finance but found himself unhappy and unfulfilled, leading him to explore entrepreneurship.

• He realized that there were external forces driving his desire to start companies and embarked on a journey of self-reflection and education.

• Through the study of mimetic theory, Luke gained a deeper understanding of his own desires and the importance of intentional imitation in entrepreneurship.