Ernest Becker: Difference between revisions

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File:Ernest Becker (1924-1974).jpg

Ernest Becker (1924-1974)

Ernest Becker (September 27, 1924 – March 6, 1974) was an American cultural anthropologist and writer known for his work in the fields of psychology, philosophy, and anthropology. He is best known for his 1974 book The Denial of Death, which won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction.

Biography[edit]

Ernest Becker was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and grew up in a Jewish family. He served in the United States Army during World War II, after which he attended Syracuse University, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology. He later obtained a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Simon Fraser University.

Career[edit]

Becker's career was marked by his interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from psychology, philosophy, and anthropology. He taught at several universities, including Simon Fraser University, where he was a professor of anthropology.

The Denial of Death[edit]

The Denial of Death is Becker's most famous work, in which he explores the concept of death anxiety and its role in human behavior. Becker argues that much of human activity is driven by an unconscious fear of death, and that cultural systems, such as religion and heroism, are constructed to manage this fear.

Legacy[edit]

Becker's work has had a significant impact on the fields of psychology, philosophy, and cultural studies. His ideas have influenced the development of terror management theory, which explores how humans cope with the awareness of their own mortality.

References[edit]

Becker, Ernest. The Denial of Death. New York: Free Press, 1973.
Becker, Ernest. Escape from Evil. New York: Free Press, 1975.

External links[edit]

Ernest Becker Foundation

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:Becker lecture 1960.png|thumb]] {{Infobox person
+{{Infobox person
 | name = Ernest Becker
-| birth_date = September 27, 1924
+| image =
+| caption =
+| birth_date = {{birth date|1924|9|27}}
 | birth_place = Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
-| death_date = March 6, 1974
+| death_date = {{death date and age|1974|3|6|1924|9|27}}
 | death_place = Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
 | nationality = American
-| occupation = Cultural anthropologist, author
+| occupation = Cultural anthropologist, writer
-| notable_works = ''The Denial of Death'', ''Escape from Evil''
+| notable_works = ''[[The Denial of Death]]''
 }}
+[[File:Ernest_Becker_(1924-1974).jpg|Ernest Becker (1924-1974)|thumb]]
+'''Ernest Becker''' (September 27, 1924 – March 6, 1974) was an American [[cultural anthropology|cultural anthropologist]] and [[writer]] known for his work in the fields of [[psychology]], [[philosophy]], and [[anthropology]]. He is best known for his 1974 book ''[[The Denial of Death]]'', which won the [[Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction]].
-'''Ernest Becker''' (September 27, 1924 – March 6, 1974) was an American cultural anthropologist and interdisciplinary thinker, noted for his work in the fields of psychology, sociology, and anthropology. He is best known for his 1974 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, ''[[The Denial of Death]]'', which explores the human awareness of mortality and its effects on human behavior.
+== Biography ==
+Ernest Becker was born in [[Springfield, Massachusetts]], and grew up in a Jewish family. He served in the [[United States Army]] during [[World War II]], after which he attended [[Syracuse University]], earning a bachelor's degree in [[psychology]]. He later obtained a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from [[Simon Fraser University]].
-== Early Life and Education ==
+== Career ==
-Ernest Becker was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1924. He served in the infantry during World War II, which profoundly influenced his later work. After the war, Becker attended Syracuse University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in anthropology. He continued his studies at Syracuse, obtaining a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology in 1960.
+Becker's career was marked by his interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from [[psychology]], [[philosophy]], and [[anthropology]]. He taught at several universities, including [[Simon Fraser University]], where he was a professor of anthropology.
-== Academic Career ==
+== The Denial of Death ==
-Becker's academic career was marked by a series of teaching positions at various universities, including Syracuse University, the University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and Simon Fraser University in Canada. His interdisciplinary approach often put him at odds with traditional academic departments, leading to a somewhat peripatetic career.
+''The Denial of Death'' is Becker's most famous work, in which he explores the concept of [[death anxiety]] and its role in human behavior. Becker argues that much of human activity is driven by an unconscious fear of death, and that cultural systems, such as [[religion]] and [[heroism]], are constructed to manage this fear.
-== Major Works ==
+== Legacy ==
+Becker's work has had a significant impact on the fields of [[psychology]], [[philosophy]], and [[cultural studies]]. His ideas have influenced the development of [[terror management theory]], which explores how humans cope with the awareness of their own mortality.
-=== The Denial of Death ===
+== See also ==
-''The Denial of Death'' is Becker's most famous work, published in 1973. In this book, Becker argues that the awareness of our own mortality is a fundamental source of human anxiety. He suggests that much of human behavior is an attempt to deny or escape the reality of death. Becker draws on the work of [[Sigmund Freud]], [[Otto Rank]], and [[Søren Kierkegaard]] to explore how culture, religion, and personal heroism serve as mechanisms to cope with the fear of death.
+* [[Terror management theory]]
+* [[Cultural anthropology]]
+* [[Psychology of religion]]
-=== Escape from Evil ===
+== References ==
-Published posthumously in 1975, ''Escape from Evil'' extends the ideas presented in ''The Denial of Death''. Becker examines how the denial of death leads to the creation of evil in the world, as individuals and societies attempt to achieve symbolic immortality through power, wealth, and cultural achievements. He explores the role of religion and culture in providing frameworks for understanding and transcending death.
+* Becker, Ernest. ''The Denial of Death''. New York: Free Press, 1973.
+* Becker, Ernest. ''Escape from Evil''. New York: Free Press, 1975.
-== Influence and Legacy ==
+== External links ==
-Becker's work has had a significant impact on the fields of psychology, anthropology, and existential philosophy. His ideas have influenced the development of [[terror management theory]], which explores how humans manage the fear of death through cultural worldviews and self-esteem. Becker's interdisciplinary approach and his exploration of existential themes continue to resonate with scholars and thinkers across various disciplines.
+* [https://www.ernestbecker.org/ Ernest Becker Foundation]
-== Also see ==
-* [[Terror management theory]]
-* [[Existential psychology]]
-* [[Cultural anthropology]]
-* [[Sigmund Freud]]
-* [[Otto Rank]]
-* [[Søren Kierkegaard]]
 {{Authority control}}
-[[Category:American anthropologists]]
-[[Category:Existential psychologists]]
 [[Category:1924 births]]
 [[Category:1974 deaths]]
+[[Category:American anthropologists]]
+[[Category:American psychologists]]
+[[Category:Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction winners]]
+[[Category:People from Springfield, Massachusetts]]
+[[Category:Syracuse University alumni]]
+[[Category:Simon Fraser University faculty]]