Jack Murphy Live

Podcast Notes Key Takeaways

• Desire is why people want what they want
  • Mimetic desire: relying on external references “to show us what is wantable”
  • We are usually unaware of how much of our self-proclaimed individualism is sourced from thoughts and desires that are not our own
• We often fight because of our sameness, not because of our differences
  • Conflict emerges when differences are eliminated; everyone begins to fight over the same things
• Mimetic crisis: occurs when there is a loss of difference
  • When friend/enemy distinctions collapse, people try really hard to create differences
  • Scapegoats are the reintroduction of difference, which inherently is the reintroduction of peace (as counterintuitive that sounds)
  • “Humans have always relied on violence to drive out violence throughout human history” – Luke Burgis
• The problem with data: “Data at its best can only represent the state of things right now…it just captures what people presently want” – Luke Burgis
  • Truly good ideas aren’t shaped by desire; good ideas shape desire
• An enjoyable life comes down to ordering your desires well
  • You must know the difference between your personal desires and the desires that simply have a great presentation
  • Prioritize your “thick” desires (continue reading for more info)
• We should do away with the façade of desire and be honest with ourselves about what we want. Living out a meaningful life is not selfish.
  • We are living in a world where it’s harder than ever to express your true desires
  • Listen to yourself more often

Read the full notes @ podcastnotes.org

Jack Murphy sits down with Luke Burgis, author of "Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life" - an insightful book that draws on the work of French polymath René Girard to bring this hidden force to light and reveals how it shapes our lives and societies.

Why do you want what you want?

And how do we influence what other's want?

Once you understand the power of memetic contagion, you'll see it everywhere.

"A groundbreaking exploration of why we want what we want, and a toolkit for freeing ourselves from chasing unfulfilling desires. Gravity affects every aspect of our physical being, but there’s a psychological force just as powerful―yet almost nobody has heard of it. It’s responsible for bringing groups of people together and pulling them apart, making certain goals attractive to some and not to others, and fueling cycles of anxiety and conflict. In Wanting, Luke Burgis draws on the work of French polymath René Girard to bring this hidden force to light and reveals how it shapes our lives and societies. According to Girard, humans don’t desire anything independently. Human desire is mimetic―we imitate what other people want. This affects the way we choose partners, friends, careers, clothes, and vacation destinations. Mimetic desire is responsible for the formation of our very identities. It explains the enduring relevancy of Shakespeare’s plays, why Peter Thiel decided to be the first investor in Facebook, and why our world is growing more divided as it becomes more connected. Wanting also shows that conflict does not arise because of our differences―it comes from our sameness. Because we learn to want what other people want, we often end up competing for the same things. Ignoring our large similarities, we cling to our perceived differences."

https://www.amazon.com/Wanting-Power-Mimetic-Desire-Everyday/dp/1250262488

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