Desire and its Mirror Effects: The Girard-Lacan Encounter

Abstract

In this paper, I intend to compare Lacan’s and Girard’s thoughts on the nature of desire, the structure of the unconscious, and the genesis of violence. I put forward the argument that despite the major differences between the ideas of these two thinkers, they both draw attention to the dangers of narcissism and its relationship with violence. They both also treat their work as a form of therapy, the objective of which is to develop a higher form of moral conscious, unfettered by mirror effects.

Keywords: desire, Girard, Lacan, mirror stage, narcissism, violence