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Date Posted: 19:56:19 05/04/08 Sun
Author: Hwaet!
Subject: Re: CS Lewis and Stock Responses
In reply to: JPJ II 's message, "CS Lewis and Stock Responses" on 18:33:08 04/27/08 Sun

I think you're referring to page 7 of Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World when Girard says, "If human beings suddenly ceased imitating, all forms of culture would vanish." And in I See Satan, Girard says, “Even if the mimetic nature of human desire is responsible for most of the violent acts that distress us, we should not conclude that mimetic desire is bad in itself. If our desires were not mimetic . . . , they would be a particular form of instinct. . . . Mimetic desire is intrinsically good” (15).

The link between stock responses and mimesis is quite relevant to the strength and unity and definition of culture, although mimesis can also be devastating to a culture in ways other than those Girard points out. George Orwell (whose real name, I just found out, was Erik Blair!) has a great, great essay called "Politics and the English Language," which shows how stock responses cause us to stop thinking . . . to the point that we destroy our civilization. Sounds far-fetched, I know, but he makes the connections so well that not to read his essay is dangerous.

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