Scapegoating & Sacrifice

let's THiNK about it

Reversing inner pressure outward requires a scapegoat to sacrifice in order to stabilize society. By discovering the hidden models driving it reveals our motivations, but more importantly, Rene Girard‘s theory accounts for civilizations' cybernetic energies and release valves. Paired with Georges Bataille’s theory of sacrifice necessary due to excess (the general economy) we find explanations for seemingly irrational behavior.

Drawing from Luke Burgis's "Wanting: Memetic Desire in Everyday Life" we look at the basics of memetic rivalry, hidden models, and mediators before jumping to scapegoating, then we move into Lacan's notion of the "objet petit a" to consider the subject as desiring, and the self as commodified. In the end, we turn to Bataille's "The Accursed Share, vol. 1" to intertwine scapegoating and sacrifice.

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0:00 Intro: Mimetic desire and the imitation loop.

2:37 We are programmed automatons who will never capture the flag.

5:00 Introduction of the desire by a mediator.

7:57 Intentional rationality vs instrumental rationality.

12:38 How to relieve the anger?

15:17 Happiness is created by condemning one: scapegoating.

17:41 Old habits are hard to break.

22:57 Bataille: The general economy of the natural economy is excess.

25:01 How do you deal with excesses? through sacrifice.

27:28 Violence comes from memetic desire.