The Raven Foundation

Mimetic Theory states that humans are naturally social creatures who influence each other in a variety of profound ways. That openness to one another, which we call our mimetic natures, is what allows us to form individual, culturally specific identities. All of who we become, including our desires, is formed in relationship to others. Desiring the same thing as someone else can lead to bonds of friendship or commitment to shared ideals, causes, or outcomes. But when the desired object cannot be shared, shared desire can lead to conflict. This insight, that conflict arises from shared desires, is the great contribution of mimetic theory and allows us to understand how admiration turns to resentment, love to hate, and friendship to enmity. The Mimetic Theory 101  vlogs unpack these ideas and gives them shape in examples from daily life, literature, history and the bible.