René Girard's Mimetic Theory
Top Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superlative survey of an important contemporary thinker
By Andrew Marr on March 28, 2013
This survey of René Girard's though is clear, comprehensive, and insightful to a degree that is not surpassed. in ca. 300 pages, Palaver, a longtime colleague of Girard, gives us roughly nine hundred pages worth of material. That is a way of saying that the book requires careful, reflective reading and will continue to be an invaluable reference book for anyone who works with Girard's thought.
Every stage of Girard's professional career is examined to show how his insights developed over time. Particularly valuable is the way Palaver explores the contest of Girard's thought in the intellectual and cultural world around him, featuring interactions between his thought & Freud, Marx, Rousseau, Nietzsche, Hegel & many others. Perhaps most important of all is the comparison with deconstructionist thinkers, especially Derrida. What emerges from all of the comparisons is both common ground of insights with all of these thinkers coupled with sharp, sometimes profound disagreement. The examination of these interactions greatly enriches one's understanding of Girard and equips the reader for continuing these interactions. As an excellent theologian himself, Palaver outdoes himself in his analysis of Girard's theological development, giving the reader one probing insight into the abyss of God's love as it intertwines with our mimetic world.
Since the book is focused on Girard, there is little about Girard's colleagues except for when there was direct and protracted interaction between the two, as there was with the great Innsbruck theologian Raymund Schwager.
I recommend this book without reservation to anyone who wants to explore the work of René Girard or seek understanding about the causes of human violence and what might be done about it.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A book which provides access to Girard's theory
By Reinoud Doeschot on April 30, 2013
Beautiful analysis of Girard's theory and well written. By comparing Girard's theory with what other thinkers and writers wrote, Palaver not only provides a broad overview of ancient and modern thinking, but also produces valuable insights in the origins of violence and the relationship between violence and culture.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
By Wayne Larocque on June 9, 2013
Comprehensive and probing work of Girard and the power and reach of his thought. A scholarly work that is also quite readable.
Top Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superlative survey of an important contemporary thinker
By Andrew Marr on March 28, 2013
This survey of René Girard's though is clear, comprehensive, and insightful to a degree that is not surpassed. in ca. 300 pages, Palaver, a longtime colleague of Girard, gives us roughly nine hundred pages worth of material. That is a way of saying that the book requires careful, reflective reading and will continue to be an invaluable reference book for anyone who works with Girard's thought.
Every stage of Girard's professional career is examined to show how his insights developed over time. Particularly valuable is the way Palaver explores the contest of Girard's thought in the intellectual and cultural world around him, featuring interactions between his thought & Freud, Marx, Rousseau, Nietzsche, Hegel & many others. Perhaps most important of all is the comparison with deconstructionist thinkers, especially Derrida. What emerges from all of the comparisons is both common ground of insights with all of these thinkers coupled with sharp, sometimes profound disagreement. The examination of these interactions greatly enriches one's understanding of Girard and equips the reader for continuing these interactions. As an excellent theologian himself, Palaver outdoes himself in his analysis of Girard's theological development, giving the reader one probing insight into the abyss of God's love as it intertwines with our mimetic world.
Since the book is focused on Girard, there is little about Girard's colleagues except for when there was direct and protracted interaction between the two, as there was with the great Innsbruck theologian Raymund Schwager.
I recommend this book without reservation to anyone who wants to explore the work of René Girard or seek understanding about the causes of human violence and what might be done about it.
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book which provides access to Girard's theory
By Reinoud Doeschot on April 30, 2013
Beautiful analysis of Girard's theory and well written. By comparing Girard's theory with what other thinkers and writers wrote, Palaver not only provides a broad overview of ancient and modern thinking, but also produces valuable insights in the origins of violence and the relationship between violence and culture.
---
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
By Wayne Larocque on June 9, 2013
Comprehensive and probing work of Girard and the power and reach of his thought. A scholarly work that is also quite readable.
