“Modern man is drinking and drugging himself out of awareness, or he spends his time shopping, which is the same thing.” —Ernest Becker
The philosopher, Ernest Becker (1924-1974) is best known for two works: The Denial of Death and Escape from Evil.
Through these books, Becker weaves together a philosophy of humanity that argues most of a person’s actions are based on his or her fear of death. He writes, “Of all things that move man, one of the principal ones is his terror of death.”
But for Becker, it is not just the fear of physical death that moves people. In Escape from Evil, he contends that humanity’s greatest fear is to die without significance.
What man really fears is not so much extinction, but extinction with insignificance. Man wants to know that his life has somehow counted, if not for himself, then at least in a larger scheme of things, that it has left a trace, a trace that has meaning. And in order for anything once alive to have meaning, its effects must remain alive in eternity in some way.
To compensate, we begin to engage in the pursuit of immortality projects—any activity that will allow us to outlive our physical lives. By securing for ourselves immortality symbols, we are able to successfully defeat death, outlive our mortality, and overcome our terror of death.
These symbols could take many forms (writing, art, architecture). But Becker writes that most modern people in capitalist societies turn to wealth and possessions as their immortality projects. “Money gives power now—and, through accumulated property, land and interest, power in the future.” He contends that the pursuit of wealth and possessions is so common, “no wonder economic equality is beyond the imagination of modern, democratic man: the house, the car, the bank balance are his immortality symbols.”
I was first introduced to Becker’s philosophy years ago. And it has helped shape my understanding of why minimalism is a foreign idea to so many people. For those who pursue immortality through wealth and possessions, minimalism stands in sharp contrast to some of the very forces that make them human—even against the primal motivation of self-preservation.
But Becker’s contribution also gets me thinking, “Where then, do we find the motivation to own less? How do we live a life that is not motivated by the accumulation of more and more possessions? Is it even possible to live a life apart from the accumulation of money and possessions as our immortality symbols?”
Yes, of course it is possible. The key, it seems, is to discover and pursue new immortality projects—to make a conscience decision to not allow the appeal of the visible to crowd out its invisible competitors.
As a result, we choose to live a life of significance by embracing integrity, trustworthiness, honesty, and responsibility. We choose to touch the lives of others in meaningful ways by meeting their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. We seek to elevate others rather than ourselves. We invest in justice and equality. Through work, we contribute to society rather than only ourselves. And above all else, we choose to champion and excel in love.
By seeking these invisible immortality symbols, we address our need for significance and we satisfy our desire for immortality. We impact the lives of others and outlive our physical lives. And removing the pursuit of physical possessions from our affections provides even more opportunity to secure true immortality symbols.
Ah yes – so much complexity around living simply.
The fear of death, even the fear of dying insignificantly, is actually the fear of not existing at all – a condition quite natural to finding oneself conscious of existence. But the fear of not existing simply betrays a lack of appreciation or gratitude for the miracle of existing. And a desire for immortality in any form betrays an almost total ingratitude.
Projects, symbols, legacies – our minds spend so much energy (awareness) trying to understand and control the conditions of existence that we’ve little left for appreciating it while it happens.
The solution is amazingly simple: At any moment of consciousness, are we thankful for existing – no matter its conditions? Is our mind quietly saying “Thank You”? Try it. A loving, simple, and memorable life follows quite naturally.
Joshua – heartfelt thanks for creating the condition for an opportunity to post.
Thank you for this well articulated post, especially the examples you give of true immortality symbols.
My motivation to own less can be found in caring for my spiritual needs. Meeting those needs is an on going process, but in doing so, I become less fearful of death, a higher quality person, and more in tune with the needs of others and how to help them meet their own needs, physical and spiritual.
“Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6.19-21
I have had several life-threatening experiences in the course of my life-time and I have learned the hard way the value of keeping a simple life: Life itself is a most generous gift, and all the rest is “cream”: ‘Stop seeking great things for yourself…I will grant you your life as a spoil’ Jeremiah 45.5
I think the assertion by Becker is a touch one dimensional, at least the portion quoted.
Most possessions do not represent the accumulation of lasting wealth. If anything, to his other point, consumption is a distraction from our fate or from some present suffering. The mid-life crisis cliche of buying a flashy car is more about avoiding the reality of mortality than establishing immortality.
Thank you for saying what we often run away from. I have been struggling with my significance this week and wanting to be the best and the favorite, have been reminded many times that the disciples themselves were wanting to be the best and favorite, thanks for sharing in your humble way. May my life in no way be about me.
Are children an immortality project?
This article was really great. Thanks for writing!