Imitation and Conduct

Imitation is the most slavish form of behavior. In human development, it is the most primitive, as children imitate those raising them. Likewise, in Philosophy's childhood, fidelity to a model, e. g. to a Platonic 'Form', is the criterion of behavioral evaluation. The Kantian revolution marks a maturation, insofar as linguistic expression becomes paradigmatic, freeing behavior from its dependence on the immediacy of imagistic or sensory exemplars. Correspondingly, the following of such a model is now discursive, an articulated rule-governed process. However, for Kant, the criterion for behavior is still fidelity to an exemplar, to his Fundamental Principle of Pure Practical Reason. Now, Deleuze's demonstration that Repetition is also Differentiation applies to Imitation. That is, just as Repetition can be conceived as a minimal degree of Differentiation, Imitation can be conceived as a minimal degree of behavioral Variation. Likewise, the following of a rule need no longer be construed as imitative, but can, rather, be conceived as, for example, expressive, and be evaluated in terms of, not its fidelity, but, rather, its scope and novelty. Conduct thus becomes truly Idionomic, as in the Evolvemental conception.