War is Peace: Analyzing Sigmund Freud’s and René Girard’s Theories of Violence and Sacrifice

Abstract

This essay will compare and contrast the theories of Sigmund Freud and René Girard, particularly those aspects dealing with religion, culture, and violence, to decipher the role both Freud and Girard allocate to religion in controlling societal violence. Although both theorists offer socio-cultural narratives, their conceptions differ considerably, offering antipodal viewpoints on the topic of religion and sacrifice.