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Introduction
This book, written by Luke Burgis and titled Wanting: The Power of Memetic Desire, investigates the history as well as the nature of human desire. It argues that people have a tendency to believe that they are rational and independent individuals who create and pursue their own desires, but in reality, the majority of what we find desirable or undesirable is formed by modeling the desires of others. The book presents the idea of "mimesis" as a sophisticated and frequently covert kind of imitation that is responsible for a significant portion of what we wish for and what we engage in in this world.Your friend tells you he is training for soccer and suddenly you feel inspired to do the same. This subject-model-object structure is called triangular mimetic desire.
"Celebristan" and "Freshmanistan
It is suggested in the book that if we acknowledge the impact that other people have had on our inclinations, we will be better able to determine what is and is not working for us, and we will be able to design a life that is more congruent with the way that we genuinely want to live. The book also presents the idea of "Celebristan" and "Freshmanistan," which are both models of desire that are derived from people who are either far far from us or very close to us, respectively. The former can positively impact our lives, whereas the latter frequently results in undesirable mimesis and competition.
Negative and Positive Cycle
The book also discusses the two different cycles of mimetic desire: the Negative Cycle, in which mimetic desire leads to rivalry and conflict, and the Positive Cycle, in which mimetic desire unites individuals in a shared passion for a common good. Both of these cycles are discussed throughout the book. The book also emphasizes that being motivated by desire makes one more prone to mimetic conduct and that being anti-mimetic is the antidote to being governed by mimetic desire. This information is presented in the context of a discussion of mimetic desire. In addition, the book explains the concepts of sympathy and empathy and how mimesis can take advantage of these emotions.
Exercises and Reflections
Contemplate the ways in which the behaviors of others around you mold your desires.
Do you let your desires control you or move from one thing to the next?
How can you make yourself less like other people?
Consider the role that sympathy and empathy play in your day-to-day activities. Are you conscious of the fact that mimesis can take control of these feelings?
How can you practice empathy without letting up your identity and sense of self-possession?
Consider the role that sympathy and empathy play in your day-to-day activities. Are you conscious of the fact that mimesis can take control of these feelings? How can you practice empathy without letting up your identity and sense of self-possession?
Consider the ways you contribute to both the negative and positive cycles of mimetic desire and how you contribute to them. Is there ever a time or a circumstance in which you find yourself engaging in rivalry or competitiveness with other people? Do you ever find yourself in a scenario where you and others have a shared desire for something for the greater good?
Conclusion
Wanting The Power of Memetic Desire is a thought-provoking book that dives into the intricate and frequently concealed basis of human desire. It contends that the majority of what we find desirable or disagreeable is generated by imitating the interests of others, which is a theory that contradicts the notion that we are rational and independent individuals who create and pursue our own desires. Instead, it asserts that this is how it works. The term "mimesis" and how itinfluences our wishes and actions are discussed in depth throughout the book. In addition, it investigates the positive and negative cycles of mimetic desire, as well as the influence of the Celebristan and Freshmanistan models on our wants and needs.the book encourages its readers to engage in anti-mimetic conduct and to exercise empathy without sacrificing their unique identities.
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