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Ernest Becker Quotes

Anthropologist

Ernest Becker was an American anthropologist known for his theories on human motivation and culture. His major work, 'The Denial of Death', explores how humans seek meaning and purpose by denying the fear brought by freedom.

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All Men Animal Denial Of Death Existential Self Death Philosophy Problem Evil Guilt Human Humans Ifs Order Seems World Doe Ernest Becker Existentialism Lying

Famous Ernest Becker Quotes

“In this view, man is an energy-converting organism who must exert his manipulative powers, who must damage his world in some ways, who must make it uncomfortable for others, etc., by his own nature as an active being. He seeks self-expansion from a very uncertain power base. Even if man hurts others, it is because he is weak and afraid, not because he is confident and cruel. Rousseau summed up this point of view with the idea that only the strong person can be ethical, not the weak one.”

Philosophy Evil Human Nature Sociology Ernest Becker

Author:Ernest Becker

“In seeking to avoid evil, humanity is responsible for bringing more evil into the world than organisms could ever do merely by exercising their digestive tracts. It is our ingenuity, rather than our animal nature, that has given our fellow creatures such a bitter earthly fate.”

World Humanity Evil Given Animal Fate Exercise Creatures Responsible Fellows Seeking Bitter Organisms Ingenuity

Author:Ernest Becker

“The greatest cause of evil included all human motives in one giant paradox. Good and bad were so inextricably mixed that we couldn't make them out; bad seemed to lead to good, and good motives led to bad. The paradox is that evil comes from man's urge to heroic victory over evil.”

Men Humans Evil Causes Victory Motive Giants Urges Paradox Heroic Existential Good And Bad

Author:Ernest Becker

“Man's natural and inevitable urge to deny mortality and achieve a heroic self-image are the root causes of human evil.”

Men Humans Self Evil Causes Natural Achieve Roots Deny Inevitable Urges Mortality Heroic Existential Root Cause

Book:Escape from Evil

Source: Escape from Evil

“Each society is a hero system which promises victory over evil and death.”

Evil Hero Victory Promise

Book:Escape from Evil

Source: Escape from Evil

About the Author

Born: September 27, 1924
Died: March 6, 1974
Known for: Anthropologist
Quotes: 71

Books & Sources

The Denial of DeathRelated source material

Escape from EvilRelated source material

The Birth and Death of Meaning: An Interdisciplinary Perspective on the Problem of ManRelated source material

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