Just amazed that to this day Ernest Becker's celebration of the brilliance of Otto Rank's work ---- linking Rank directly to Kierkegaard while rightly denigrating Freud --- has not made the impact one might imagine it would. "The Denial of Death" is just about the greatest book I have ever been lucky enough to read. RIP FOREVER, EB!
Has anyone built on becker's work? I recently finished and found the synthesis of his (and other known) ideas deeply compelling, even if some of the repetition of 'famous' psychology terms 'oedipal complex.. fear of castration' felt unnecessary given his, in my view, clearer definitions. Any other book recommendations greatly appreciated.
I am so glad I saw this. Becker's work seems to resonate with me and somehow having this testament to the man and his authentic search for the truth is tremendous validation. And of course how lucky he was to have such a perceptive, intelligent and humane interviewer in Mr. Keen.
I am moved by this. Having read everything that Ernest Becker Every wrote, I wish I could have been there, in that room at the hospital, to say "thank you" to Mr Becker, my captain oh my captain. There was no greater mind who answered so many questions.
Ernest Becker's works never cease to amaze me. I read 'Denial of Death' a few years back, and it was powerful then. But, after my 30 year old brother died suddenly and unexpectedly in 2007, I had a chance to revisit his work again, and it was that much more moving and powerful. I feel like a better human being just from reading his works and researching similar thought processes etc. I believe that Becker's works will come to the foreground of society as time passes...great mind.
I'm really glad to see some good solid comments in here from normal sane minded people. Like the guy "mezzanoche" who's brother had died. He Said the Becker book helped him with that loss. Greatest Non-Fiction book I had the pleasure to read time and time again ,
i think it's time for me to re-read DOD. I've read it once and about halfway through I knew that I was reading the best book I've ever read and most likely ever will read
I read Becker over and over again. He is the only man who will tell us the way things really are, and this is a remarkable feeling...like bracing mountain air. I always feel clean and refreshed after I read his books. Like Mr. Keen says, Becker was one of the Great Ones.
I read his books when I was 24 years old, now I’m 61 and even after all these years I still have the books and on occasion I go back and read them. I remember going to Banyan books in Vancouver and this red book stood out on the shelf and the title was Escape From Evil. The thing I appreciate about Ernst Becker’s writings was that they were clearly written and it was like connecting the dots to a conclusion. I remember underlying and putting checkmarks under certain paragraphs and I remember smiling. I had reached certain conclusions after reading history about human nature and some of the things Becker stated in the book like “human beings are neurotic but they’re very nature” is something that I concluded after reading history, but not having any educational background or degree, I was not completely confident of my views. After reading Becker I felt more confident in my conclusions about human nature.
I just started reading escape from evil after the birth and death meeting and the denial of death. It’s going to be my last of the Ernest Becker saga for now, but so far is standing out as my favorite. This comment resonates with me because I also am a student history and came to the same conclusion about human nature years ago.
Very similar experience. Escape from Evil was my first Becker, picked up entirely at random. I was too poor to go to college, but I still read voraciously and considered myself a student of the human animal in all its permutations. Becker validated my half formed views and articulated them more directly and beautifully than I ever could. The fact that he died before finishing several more books and coming more fully into his ideas is a tragedy for our species.
@@twentyarms Yes. I don't remember which book it was but he said that if you can convince certain individuals that if they're committing evil against other human beings but it's for the better good for society certain individuals will do it. I think you're seeing this with the israeli-palestinian situation. Becker said it was a cleansing of evil. I spoke to my bank manager a couple of days ago and he defended what Israel is doing to palestinians. He thinks Palestinians are out to destroy Israel. In his mind it's for the better good. He's actually a good person but I think this is a good example of how good people can be convinced accept and commits evil in the name of the better good for society. On the other hand he could be completely misinformed and when presented with the truth he can change his viewpoint. This has happened to individuals who used to be Pro Israeli and are currently against the attack on palestinians when presented with logic and evidence. Pure Evil is when an individuals who are psychopaths commits evil without any wrong doing being committed towards them. In my opinion Israel allowed this to happen and it has one of the best surveillance systems and there's no videos of beheadings or rapes. Anyway maybe I'm getting off topic.
It will be interesting to see how the ideas of Becker and his ilk interact with the ideas of the 'immortalists' and 'transhumanists' among us, such as Ray Kurzweil.
Take heart, shakanunu! I read it in the late 70's; it's only a curse as long as one is under the illusion that it is lifting the "final veil"! It IS an important book, but in my experience, not the final or most important revelation. Good luck to you in your quest!
I would argue that the exceptional levels of mental well-being brought about by mind training in the Buddhist tradition are already a form of h+, albeit millennia old. What masters of this training have to say about death is very interesting and very different from what h+ people are saying today.
@mindauggas So do I. I think the movements I was describing have aspects of religious cults and their adherents are incredibly naive. Kurzweil has some serious emotional issues - e.g. he wants to resurrect his dead father. I would be unnerved if he ever got some sort of political power.
What should I know more about? I've read a lot about transhumanism and the alternative viewpoints, and spent a lot of time thinking about what it means. What would you like to discuss?
I have been heavily influenced by Buddhist ideas of what constitutes a 'self' and what it really means to elevate the human condition. Buddhism posits the subjectively experienced state of an 'eternal now' (i.e. enlightenment), while transhumanism would entail some form of 'forever existing as myself', a rather horrifying notion akin to the monotheistic heaven, where you simply live...to what end? What would being downloaded onto a computer for the next billion years really be like?
Well, I see the suffering caused by the denial of death behaviours and the transhumanist agenda as an extension of those behaviours, not really getting to the root of the problem, and it irritates me. I will say Ray Kurzweil is off his rocker and kind of half-baked. If that means I'm defensively rationalizing my own choice, fine.
Just amazed that to this day Ernest Becker's celebration of the brilliance of Otto Rank's work ---- linking Rank directly to Kierkegaard while rightly denigrating Freud --- has not made the impact one might imagine it would. "The Denial of Death" is just about the greatest book I have ever been lucky enough to read. RIP FOREVER, EB!
Have you read worm at the core? I’m reading that now and plan to read Denial of death after.
@@gabea.5652 I need to read that. I listened to Denial of Death about a year ago and it was brilliant.
Has anyone built on becker's work?
I recently finished and found the synthesis of his (and other known) ideas deeply compelling, even if some of the repetition of 'famous' psychology terms 'oedipal complex.. fear of castration' felt unnecessary given his, in my view, clearer definitions.
Any other book recommendations greatly appreciated.
What a moving speech in its modesty and simple grief.
I am so glad I saw this. Becker's work seems to resonate with me and somehow having this testament to the man and his authentic search for the truth is tremendous validation. And of course how lucky he was to have such a perceptive, intelligent and humane interviewer in Mr. Keen.
I am moved by this. Having read everything that Ernest Becker Every wrote, I wish I could have been there, in that room at the hospital, to say "thank you" to Mr Becker, my captain oh my captain. There was no greater mind who answered so many questions.
Ernest Becker's works never cease to amaze me. I read 'Denial of Death' a few years back, and it was powerful then. But, after my 30 year old brother died suddenly and unexpectedly in 2007, I had a chance to revisit his work again, and it was that much more moving and powerful. I feel like a better human being just from reading his works and researching similar thought processes etc.
I believe that Becker's works will come to the foreground of society as time passes...great mind.
I'm really glad to see some good solid comments in here from normal sane minded people. Like the guy "mezzanoche" who's brother had died. He Said the Becker book helped him with that loss. Greatest Non-Fiction book I had the pleasure to read time and time again ,
i think it's time for me to re-read DOD. I've read it once and about halfway through I knew that I was reading the best book I've ever read and most likely ever will read
I am currently reading The Denial of Death. I am only 20 pages in, and I am already impressed. Love Becker ❤️
I read Becker over and over again. He is the only man who will tell us the way things really are, and this is a remarkable feeling...like bracing mountain air. I always feel clean and refreshed after I read his books.
Like Mr. Keen says, Becker was one of the Great Ones.
He changed my life, my thought, the greatest of them all.
which book should i read
2020 and still so true
I read his books when I was 24 years old, now I’m 61 and even after all these years I still have the books and on occasion I go back and read them. I remember going to Banyan books in Vancouver and this red book stood out on the shelf and the title was Escape From Evil. The thing I appreciate about Ernst Becker’s writings was that they were clearly written and it was like connecting the dots to a conclusion. I remember underlying and putting checkmarks under certain paragraphs and I remember smiling. I had reached certain conclusions after reading history about human nature and some of the things Becker stated in the book like “human beings are neurotic but they’re very nature” is something that I concluded after reading history, but not having any educational background or degree, I was not completely confident of my views. After reading Becker I felt more confident in my conclusions about human nature.
I just started reading escape from evil after the birth and death meeting and the denial of death. It’s going to be my last of the Ernest Becker saga for now, but so far is standing out as my favorite. This comment resonates with me because I also am a student history and came to the same conclusion about human nature years ago.
Very similar experience. Escape from Evil was my first Becker, picked up entirely at random. I was too poor to go to college, but I still read voraciously and considered myself a student of the human animal in all its permutations. Becker validated my half formed views and articulated them more directly and beautifully than I ever could. The fact that he died before finishing several more books and coming more fully into his ideas is a tragedy for our species.
@@twentyarms Yes. I don't remember which book it was but he said that if you can convince certain individuals that if they're committing evil against other human beings but it's for the better good for society certain individuals will do it. I think you're seeing this with the israeli-palestinian situation. Becker said it was a cleansing of evil. I spoke to my bank manager a couple of days ago and he defended what Israel is doing to palestinians.
He thinks Palestinians are out to destroy Israel. In his mind it's for the better good.
He's actually a good person but I think this is a good example of how good people can be convinced accept and commits evil in the name of the better good for society.
On the other hand he could be completely misinformed and when presented with the truth he can change his viewpoint.
This has happened to individuals who used to be Pro Israeli and are currently against the attack on palestinians when presented with logic and evidence.
Pure Evil is when an individuals who are psychopaths commits evil without any wrong doing being committed towards them.
In my opinion Israel allowed this to happen and it has one of the best surveillance systems and there's no videos of beheadings or rapes. Anyway maybe I'm getting off topic.
@@twentyarmsI sent you a message but I don't see it here I'll resend it later I guess
@@surreallife777 I've had similar issues recently (responding to someone in the comments, and it just vanishing)
I read his book; it really is quite brilliant.
Many thanks for posting this vid.
Great documentary.
thank you for posting mind opening video
Beautiful 🙏
It will be interesting to see how the ideas of Becker and his ilk interact with the ideas of the 'immortalists' and 'transhumanists' among us, such as Ray Kurzweil.
Take heart, shakanunu! I read it in the late 70's; it's only a curse as long as one is under the illusion that it is lifting the "final veil"! It IS an important book, but in my experience, not the final or most important revelation. Good luck to you in your quest!
r u alive
What an experience. . .
Becker managed with his understanding of the denial of death to make people to grief for him eternally .
It was his immortality project
I would argue that the exceptional levels of mental well-being brought about by mind training in the Buddhist tradition are already a form of h+, albeit millennia old. What masters of this training have to say about death is very interesting and very different from what h+ people are saying today.
It's an outrage that the interview is sold at the foundation. Make it available for free.
I just found a copy of the original issue on ebay for 10 bucks!
I dont disagree that it should be free, but im just thrilled I finally found a copy
RIP 🪦♥️ 🌌
4:11 fantastic.
is this is cutting room floor clip from Flight From Death?
A short clip from this unedited scene does appear in Flight from Death.
And when I mean crazy...well, granted it's unkind, but Kurzweil talks about resurrecting his dead father...I don't know what else to call that.
Becker lights up the dark side of our psyche.
Our longing for immortality remains unassuaged.
@mindauggas So do I. I think the movements I was describing have aspects of religious cults and their adherents are incredibly naive. Kurzweil has some serious emotional issues - e.g. he wants to resurrect his dead father. I would be unnerved if he ever got some sort of political power.
What should I know more about? I've read a lot about transhumanism and the alternative viewpoints, and spent a lot of time thinking about what it means. What would you like to discuss?
Yes, pretty much. I've tried debating with a few of the transhumanists on here, they really are crazy.
I have been heavily influenced by Buddhist ideas of what constitutes a 'self' and what it really means to elevate the human condition. Buddhism posits the subjectively experienced state of an 'eternal now' (i.e. enlightenment), while transhumanism would entail some form of 'forever existing as myself', a rather horrifying notion akin to the monotheistic heaven, where you simply live...to what end? What would being downloaded onto a computer for the next billion years really be like?
"Mor-Tal-UP!"
Well, I see the suffering caused by the denial of death behaviours and the transhumanist agenda as an extension of those behaviours, not really getting to the root of the problem, and it irritates me. I will say Ray Kurzweil is off his rocker and kind of half-baked. If that means I'm defensively rationalizing my own choice, fine.
You mean how they interact with lunatic optimists?