Ernest Becker était un anthropologue culturel et un penseur scientifique réputé qui a exploré des sujets interdisciplinaires. Son œuvre a exploré en profondeur les aspects psychologiques et philosophiques de l'existence humaine, en particulier la manière dont les individus gèrent la conscience de leur propre mortalité. Becker a proposé que nos structures de caractère et même nos civilisations soient largement façonnées par les mécanismes de déni de la mort qui nous permettent de fonctionner. Cependant, ce besoin de nier la mort, a-t-il soutenu, mène inévitablement au mal en nous aliénant de la connaissance de soi authentique et en favorisant le conflit. S'appuyant sur des penseurs tels que Kierkegaard, Freud et Otto Rank, ses idées ont offert une perspective révolutionnaire sur la psyché et la société humaines.
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Denial of Death, a penetrating and insightful perspective on the source of evil in our world."A profound, nourishing book…absolutely essential to the understanding of our troubled times." —Anais Nin"An urgent essay that bears all the marks of a final philosophical raging against the dying of the light." —Newsweek
Addresses the issue of mortality discussing how humans universally share a fear of death and examines the theories of leading thinkers on this subject including Freud, Rank, and Kierkegaard
De-confusing and Re-constructing the Postmodern World
Includes essays and excerpts from the works of prominent modern thinkers such as Umberto Eco, Jacques Derrida, and Isaiah Berlin among others.
Ernest Becker (1924-1974) was a keen observer of society and human behavior during America's tumultuous 1960s and 1970s. With a background in social anthropology, he was driven by a deep curiosity about human motivations, persistently asking, "What makes people act the way they do?" Frustrated by the fragmented approaches of contemporary social sciences, Becker sought a comprehensive, empirical understanding of humanity. He developed an interdisciplinary vision where each discipline is rooted in a fundamental truth about the human condition, creating a broad perspective on human motivations that spans biological, psychological, and social sciences, as well as the humanities and various studies. Best known for his later works, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Denial of Death" (1974) and "Escape from Evil" (1975), Becker's influential ideas were built upon a distinguished foundation of earlier writings. His early works, rich in insight, provide context for his later contributions and illuminate the evolution of his thoughts. Despite his life being cut short, Becker’s writings remain in print, engaging new generations of readers. The Ernest Becker Reader compiles much of his early work, placing his later achievements in context and significantly contributing to the enduring interest in his ideas.
Der Autor stellt verschiedene humanwissenschaftliche (psychoanalytische) und theologische Theorien nebeneinander und beleuchtet die Erklärungen zur Todesfurcht. Im Mittelpunkt stehen Theorien von Kirkegaard und Rank.