Episode #162 - The Creation of Meaning - The Denial of Death
The Creation of Meaning - The Denial of Death
Key Takeaways
The Human Duality of Being Biological and Symbolic Entities: Becker explores the tension between our physical, mortal nature and our symbolic, meaning-seeking side. This dual nature causes existential anxiety, as we struggle to reconcile our desire for significance with our inevitable mortality.
The Inability to Function with Constant Death Awareness: Becker argues that constant awareness of death is too painful for humans. To cope, we create systems of meaning and engage in immortality projects to give our lives a sense of significance and to metaphorically transcend death.
Societal Roles as Illusions of Significance: Becker suggests that societal roles are constructs that provide the illusion of importance and permanence. These roles help individuals cope with the terror of their insignificance and impermanence by attaching themselves to larger cultural ideals.
The Universality of 'Religious' Behavior in Culture: According to Becker, all human activities, whether they appear scientific or secular, are driven by the same basic religious impulse to feel cosmically important. This behavior is a universal response to the terror of death and the quest for meaning.
Recommended Reading
The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker (1997): This Pulitzer Prize-winning work discusses how humans universally share a fear of death, examining theories from Freud, Rank, and Kierkegaard.
Escape from Evil by Ernest Becker (1975): An exploration of the natural history of evil, this book delves into the human attempts to deny and avoid the terror of death.
The Birth and Death of Meaning: An Interdisciplinary Perspective on the Problem of Man by Ernest Becker (2008): This book provides an interdisciplinary perspective on human behavior, particularly focusing on how humans find meaning in the face of mortality.
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