Is competition negative for learning? Imitation, learning, competition and innovation: A Girardian perspective

Abstract

This article contains a discussion on how imitation may be considered an essential premise for learning and innovation. Imitation has been considered, until lately, a wilful representation of the world. However, today imitation or mimesis is viewed by many first and foremost as a desire, evoked by the other. When desire vis-à-vis the other becomes too intense, it inverts the learning process and becomes a hindrance to learning. Learning can, however, be optimal when there is a high degree of competition. Competition and cooperation seem to exist simultaneously – despite a strong scepticism towards competition among teachers. To find the right balance between imitating a model and the intensity of the desire entailed in imitation seems to be decisive for the degree of innovation.