René Noël Théophile Girard (1923–2015) was a French historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science whose work belongs to the tradition of anthropological philosophy. Girard was the author of nearly thirty books, with his writings spanning many academic domains. Although the reception of his work is different in each of these areas, there is a growing body of secondary literature on …
In Violence and the Sacred, René Girard strikes at the very roots of the cultural and social foundation of Western civilization. His study is built upon a highly personal re-reading of ancient Greek tragedies and reflections on the major systems—sociological, ethnological, and psychoanalytic—that have attempted to offer a comprehensive explanation of the most ancient rituals and the earliest cultural and social institutions.
This daring and impressive investigation by René Girard raises profound questions and prompts deep reflection and discussion, aligning itself with the necessary revision of Freudianism while turning to Lévi-Strauss and the best of a structuralism all too often distorted by its epigones. It is no exaggeration to compare it to a tour de force in both the human sciences and literature. A vast knowledge of ethnology, combined with primary, verified sources and references, enables the author to construct a new theory of the sacred and to offer a compelling interpretation of numerous mythical and ritual themes (the festival, twins, hostile brothers, incest, the double, the mask, etc.), whose deep significance is revealed here, explained for the first time in their interconnectedness.
Perhaps René Girard's greatest merit lies in the clarity and elegance of his presentation. Free from any obscure illuminist jargon, the book possesses immense scientific value while simultaneously standing as a beautiful piece of literature.
Violence and the Sacred is the second of four books in which René Girard first formulates his theory of mimetic desire. Deceit, Desire and the Novel has already been published; Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World and The Scapegoat are forthcoming.
Don’t miss a thing! Subscribe to our newsletter and receive our latest articles, offers, and news directly in your inbox.
Cookie settings
We use cookies to provide you with the best possible experience. They also allow us to analyze user behavior in order to constantly improve the website for you.
