About
René Girard (1923-2015) was a French anthropologist and philosopher, known for his mimetic theory. After studies at the École des Chartes and a PhD at Indiana University, he taught in the United States, notably at Stanford. His work explores mimetic desire, the scapegoat mechanism, and the role of biblical texts. Elected to the Académie française in 2005, he influenced many fields.
* 1923-12-25 — † 2015-11-04
Major works
- Mensonge romantique et vérité romanesque (1961)essay
- La Violence et le sacré (1972)essay
- Des choses cachées depuis la fondation du monde (1978)essay
Key milestones
- 2005Elected to the Académie française, seat 37.
- 2009Received the Modern Language Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
- 2013Awarded the Order of Isabella the Catholic by the King of Spain.
Themes
Mimetic desireScapegoatViolence and the sacredBiblical revelationFundamental anthropology
Sources: news.stanford.edu · oxfordbibliographies.com