This lecture delves into René Girard's theory of mimetic desire and its influence on human societies, especially those before Christianity. Girard posits that mimetic rivalry sparks escalating violence, which he terms "reciprocal violence." To address this, societies often resort to a scapegoat mechanism, where a community collectively blames a single person or group for its troubles, expels them, and paradoxically elevates them to a divine status. This process, while deceptive and violent, fosters social cohesion and order. However, it is cyclical, as new scapegoats and institutions emerge when the old ones become ineffective. The lecture draws on examples from the Iliad, the Oedipus myth, and the Hymn of Purusha to illustrate these concepts, and it sets the stage for the next lecture, which will discuss the transformative effects of Christianity.
