03-07-2013, 01:25 AM
Ernest Becker is best known for The Denial of Death, but I would also recommend his book Escape From Evil, in which he explains that civilization with all of its symbols, rituals and traditions is mostly a giant death-denial project. And men who fight and claw their way to the top of the power structure are the most terrified of their mortality and their animal nature.
"All power is in essence power to deny mortality. Either that or it is not real power at all, not ultimate power, not the power that mankind is really obsessed with. Power means power to increase oneself, to change one's natural situation from one of smallness, helplessness, finitude, to one of bigness, control, durability, importance."
"All power is in essence power to deny mortality. Either that or it is not real power at all, not ultimate power, not the power that mankind is really obsessed with. Power means power to increase oneself, to change one's natural situation from one of smallness, helplessness, finitude, to one of bigness, control, durability, importance."