095 Living Courageously in the Face of Mortality: A Tribute to Ernest Becker
In today's episode, we delve into the world of Ernest Becker's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Denial of Death.
Exploring Becker’s central ideas, we uncover how the awareness of mortality shapes human behaviour, fuels creativity, and drives us to seek meaning in a transient world.
Join us as we examine heroic projects, the role of culture and religion in coping with death anxiety, and the dark consequences of avoiding mortality - from tribalism to perfectionism. We also dive into the critiques of Becker’s work and discuss how his ideas remain deeply relevant in today’s age of consumerism, technology, and social media.
More importantly, we look at what it means to authentically embrace mortality. How can facing our fears of death liberate us from distractions and bring greater clarity, purpose, and connection to our lives?
Much love,
David
