Peter Thiel was greatly influenced by Girard at Stanford [1] and he worked to create the nonprofit that supports the proliferation and application of Girard's theories, Imitatio [2]. You can get an idea of some of Girard's thought and of related works that engage with it at the free collection of writings maintained by Paul Nuechterlein [3].
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a comprehensive, yet concise writeup on Girard's theories [1]. Interestingly, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has no article on him [2] - is it because he worked there?
In the first article you point to, Thiel says that:
> Economics will tell you that competition dilutes profits, and that’s one big reason to question it.
Hmm, actually, no and no. Economics don't tell you that competition dilutes profits, it tells you that competition drives down prices until profits are zero, which isn't the same thing.
And it also tells you that low prices are good, not bad; only companies care about "profits", but the public at large benefits not from profits but from low prices. Walmart is the best thing that ever happened to the US, economy-wise.
Didn't know that Peter Thiel was an admirer of René Girard, but since he's also a disciple of Ayn Rand, I guess it makes sense (in that he revels in big empty bullshit).
One of the most interesting writers I've read. His theories of acquisitive mimesis and scapegoating are towering ideas.
I have no idea how they could be made falsifiable but it would be interesting if they could. Even if they are not falsifiable, as a theory of literature - or just storytelling - they're still quite powerful.
Noob question, I suppose anthropology is a descriptive science, did it lead to theories about transcending human nature ? for instance avoiding (or at least attempting) social scapegoating.
"René would never have experienced such a career in France," said Benoît Chantre, president of Paris' Association Recherches Mimétiques, one of the organizations that have formed around Girard's work. "Such a free work could indeed only appear in America ".
Looks like times have changed in France, since Thomas Piketty had no problem working there and writing his "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" which went on to have millions of copies sold?
I'd like to point out that he also heavily influenced Jean Pierre Dupuy (also professor at Standford) who wrote a few brilliant books. Among them : "l'Avenir de l'économie". Don't know if it's translated in english but for my fellow french hackers I highly recommend it
For me he is the champion of "people mimic stuff and people". Since I agree that it is human nature to do so he's also part of my foundation of favoring FLOSS software and being opposed to software patents (or limits on the ability to mimic things in general).
Agree with you. Girard is anti-scientific. It is the typical kind of guy who finds a pseudo-key (mimetics) and applies it to everything and everyone. And if you ever dare to disagree you are also doing that because of mimetism. His theory is simplistic, not very novel, and cannot explain everything.
One very big "hole" in his thinking is that for him no civilization can be accomplished without the Christ and its revelation. So, well, all those incredibly advanced East Asian civilisations? Thrown overboard! Never existed!
Really solid thinkers like Paul Ricœur are a dozen levels higher and deeper than Girard.
And, as HN is not a necrology website, I think it is a very good occasion to criticize a guy's theory the day his death is announced, why not?
I have no thoughts on Rene Girard, having never heard of him before.
Still, just as a matter of civility, perhaps calling him a charlatan and criticizing his work is something that we shouldn't do on a thread announcing his death. There are better places for this.
[+] [-] keane|10 years ago|reply
[1] http://www.businessinsider.com/peter-thiel-on-rene-girards-i...
[2] http://www.imitatio.org/
[3] http://www.girardianlectionary.net/
[+] [-] amadeusw|10 years ago|reply
[1] http://www.iep.utm.edu/girard
[2] http://plato.stanford.edu/search/search?query=girard+rene
[+] [-] bambax|10 years ago|reply
> Economics will tell you that competition dilutes profits, and that’s one big reason to question it.
Hmm, actually, no and no. Economics don't tell you that competition dilutes profits, it tells you that competition drives down prices until profits are zero, which isn't the same thing.
And it also tells you that low prices are good, not bad; only companies care about "profits", but the public at large benefits not from profits but from low prices. Walmart is the best thing that ever happened to the US, economy-wise.
Didn't know that Peter Thiel was an admirer of René Girard, but since he's also a disciple of Ayn Rand, I guess it makes sense (in that he revels in big empty bullshit).
[+] [-] ArkyBeagle|10 years ago|reply
I have no idea how they could be made falsifiable but it would be interesting if they could. Even if they are not falsifiable, as a theory of literature - or just storytelling - they're still quite powerful.
[+] [-] Camillo|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lindbergh|10 years ago|reply
I really enjoyed how Girard theorized what made us human in the first place (namely, rituals).
[+] [-] agumonkey|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] wyclif|10 years ago|reply
http://www.amazon.com/See-Satan-Fall-Like-Lightning/dp/15707...
[+] [-] scorchio|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] thatfrenchguy|10 years ago|reply
Yeah, who really believes that ?
[+] [-] aexaey|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] charlysisto|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kriro|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bambax|10 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] gbog|10 years ago|reply
One very big "hole" in his thinking is that for him no civilization can be accomplished without the Christ and its revelation. So, well, all those incredibly advanced East Asian civilisations? Thrown overboard! Never existed!
Really solid thinkers like Paul Ricœur are a dozen levels higher and deeper than Girard.
And, as HN is not a necrology website, I think it is a very good occasion to criticize a guy's theory the day his death is announced, why not?
[+] [-] edanm|10 years ago|reply
Still, just as a matter of civility, perhaps calling him a charlatan and criticizing his work is something that we shouldn't do on a thread announcing his death. There are better places for this.