Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World
Description
In this wide-ranging work of cultural criticism, three thinkers investigate how imitation, rivalry, and escalating conflict shape human relationships and social life. The discussion develops a theory of the scapegoat mechanism, arguing that collective violence and its ritualized repetition helped establish the foundations of religion, culture, and social order. Drawing on anthropology, psychoanalysis, literature, biblical interpretation, and the history of religion, the book reconsiders subjects including sacrifice, Christianity, Freud’s theories, and anti-Semitism. Presented as an searching intellectual dialogue, it offers a challenging and influential account of the hidden forces behind human violence and communal identity.
Available Editions
paperback
Stanford University Press
Published Jun 1, 1987
470 pages
ISBN: 9780804722155
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Details
First Published
1978
Language
eng
Translation
From: fra
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World by René Girard, Jean-Michel Oughourlian, Guy Lefort.