Imitation: The hidden power that makes us human

Source: Aristotle and the hidden pleasure of imitation

Imitation ('mimesis') is ingrained in man from childhood, and in this he differs from other animals: he is the greatest imitator of them all, and he learns his first lessons through imitation. Secondly, everyone enjoys imitation.

The proof of this is found in practical experience: things that are painful for us to see in reality, we enjoy observing in their most accurate pictures – for example, the forms of lowly animals and of corpses... The reason for this is that learning is a pleasure not only for philosophers, but also for the rest of mankind... They enjoy seeing pictures because while observing they learn and deduce what each thing is, for example: 'This is so-and-so'.

(Aristotle, Poetics, Chapter 4, 1448b)

Explanation: From biological necessity to intellectual pleasure

Aristotle lays the groundwork: imitation is a biological and cognitive necessity. Unlike Plato, who saw imitation as a lie, Aristotle understands that it is the only way to learn. But he adds a critical layer: pleasure. Why do we enjoy seeing an imitation rather than the original itself? Because the pleasure is not aesthetic; it is intellectual. It is the joy of deciphering, of recognition. Imitation is the human brain's first logical act.

Perspective: Sophisticated photocopiers: imitation as a condition of being human

How many times have we smiled at a newborn, hoping they will imitate us and smile back? The cheek muscles copy the smile, and only later do babies connect that flexing of cheek muscles to a feeling of joy. Without this ability to imitate, we are not human. We are just flesh. Imitation is the only bridge between the 'self' and the world. We like to think of ourselves as unique creatures, but the truth is we are sophisticated photocopiers. Originality is loneliness and a lack of communication, and survival itself depends on the ability to copy, to replicate accurately and quickly, to adapt.

Going Deeper: Mirror neurons: when the brain doesn't distinguish between me and you

In the 1990s, "mirror neurons" were discovered. Researchers in Italy found nerve cells in a monkey's brain that fire not only when it grasps a peanut, but also when it sees someone else grasping a peanut. The implication is radical: the brain does not distinguish between "I am doing" and "you are doing." When I see someone get hurt, I wince. This is the biological basis for empathy, as well as emotional contagion. If my partner is stressed, I am physically stressed too. We are porous creatures. Mirror neurons "activate" the same areas of the brain as if we were performing the action ourselves, fostering empathy and social interaction. Imitation allows us to understand the feelings and intentions of others.

On the other hand, because of pornography, rates of loneliness and divorce are sky-high. People see an imitation and no longer want the real thing. If mirror neurons are firing, why bother with a partner?

Culture: From the kingfisher to the bullet train: imitation as an act of humility

The bullet train in Japan used to produce a deafening sonic boom when exiting tunnels. The engineers were stuck. The solution came from a birdwatcher who asked: Who dives from air into water without making a splash? The kingfisher. The engineers copied the kingfisher's beak for the nose of the train. The result: quieter, faster, and more energy-efficient. This is "biomimicry" (the imitation of life)—the realization that evolution is the best research lab in the world, and that imitating nature is an act of humility. The prophets of Israel demand that we imitate the ox and the donkey, the turtledove and the swift, in reverence of God; and in Greek mythology, Daedalus builds wings to rescue his son, Icarus, from captivity.