Homo Mimeticus

A New Theory of Imitation

Nidesh Lawtoo

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Genealogy of one of the most ancient and influential concepts in western thought: Mimesis

Imitation is, perhaps more than ever, constitutive of human originality. Many things have changed since the emergence of an original species called Homo sapiens, but in the digital age humans remain mimetic creatures: from the development of consciousness to education, aesthetics to politics, mirror neurons to brain plasticity, digital simulations to emotional contagion, (new) fascist insurrections to viral contagion, we are unconsciously formed, deformed, and transformed by the all too human tendency to imitate—for both good and ill. Crossing disciplines as diverse as philosophy, aesthetics, and politics, Homo Mimeticus proposes a new theory of one of the most influential concepts in western thought (mimesis) to confront some of the hypermimetic challenges of the present and future.

Written in an accessible yet rigorous style, Homo Mimeticus appeals to both a specialized and general readership. It can be used in courses of modern and contemporary philosophy, aesthetics, political theory, literary criticism/theory, media studies, and new mimetic studies.

Ebook available in Open Access.

This publication is GPRC-labeled (Guaranteed Peer-Reviewed Content).

Watch the recording of the book launch: https://youtu.be/3fRhGvbv0Pg

Introduction: Drawing Mimetic Studies 

PART 1 — GENEALOGIES: FOUNDATIONS 
Chapter 1: Birth of Homo Mimeticus 
Chapter 2: Vita Mimetica in the Cave 
Chapter 3: Sameness and Difference Replayed 

PART 2 — AESTHETICS: CASE STUDIES 
Chapter 4: The Plasticity of Mimesis 
Chapter 5: On Animal and Human Mimicry 
Chapter 6: The Human Chameleon 

PART 3 — POLITICS: MIMETIC RE-TURNS 
Chapter 7: Banality of Evil/Mimetic Complexity 
Chapter 8: Vibrant Mimesis 
Chapter 9: The Age of Viral Reproduction 

Coda: The Complexity of Mimesis: A Dialogue with Edgar Morin 

Notes 
Bibliography 
Index 

Format: Monograph - free ebook - ePUB

358 pages

Illustrated b/w

ISBN: 9789461664785

Publication: November 11, 2022

Languages: English

Download: https://muse.jhu.edu/book/103915

Nidesh Lawtoo is professor of philosophy and literature at KU Leuven and principal investigator of the ERC project, Homo Mimeticus.
This book will make an important contribution to the discussion of mimesis in the humanities and in the social sciences.​ It will find readers in many countries convincing new generations of the importance of mimetic processes for human development.​
Christoph Wulf, Free University of Berlin