Summary
Overview
Josh and Chuck explore the fascinating world of doppelgangers - unrelated people who look strikingly similar. They discuss the history of the term, examine scientific studies on genetic similarities, explore how our brains recognize faces, and share remarkable stories of people meeting their lookalikes. The episode covers everything from folklore and literature to modern facial recognition technology and the business of being a celebrity lookalike.
Origins and History of Doppelgangers
The hosts introduce the concept of doppelgangers and trace the etymology of the word to late 18th-century Germany. Author Jean Paul coined the term in his novel Siebenkass, though he confusingly used different variations. Throughout history and across cultures, doppelgangers have been associated with supernatural and often ominous meanings, from death omens to evil twins in literature.
- Doppelganger is a German word meaning 'double goer' or 'double walker,' coined by author Jean Paul at the end of the 18th century
- Jean Paul actually used 'doppeltganger' (with a T) for lookalike humans, but 'doppelganger' became the accepted term
- English and German folklore held that seeing your doppelganger three times meant you were about to die
- Norse mythology featured the Vardugur, a spirit that looked like you and arrived at your destination before you
" There are people walking around who have a twin that they're in no way related to, and the stories behind them tend to be very interesting. "
" If you saw your doppelganger three times, it meant you were about to die. And that's still a, I think people still kind of believe that one. "
Literary and Historical Doppelgangers
The discussion moves through famous literary works featuring doppelgangers, from Edgar Allan Poe's 'William Wilson' to Dostoevsky's 'The Double.' Historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Catherine the Great all reportedly encountered their doppelgangers, with many stories carrying dark or supernatural undertones that have fascinated people for centuries.
- Edgar Allan Poe wrote 'William Wilson' about a narrator who meets a boy with the same name who only speaks in whispers
- Dostoevsky's novella 'The Double' featured a doppelganger who was a more likable version of the main character, mentally breaking him
- Abraham Lincoln reportedly saw his image three times in a mirror in 1860, which his wife interpreted as serving two terms but dying before the second ended
- Goethe claimed he passed himself on the road wearing a gray outfit, then eight years later realized he was wearing that same outfit while traveling the opposite direction
" The doppelganger is like a more likable version of the main character and ends up breaking the main character mentally. I could totally see that. You know, like if this imposter comes along or this other version of you comes along and people are like, I like you a lot more. "
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