Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, Sheldon Solomon – The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life [8 MP3]
English | Size: 200.42 MB (210,159,684 bytes)
Category: Mindset / Achievement

More than 100 years ago, the American philosopher William James wrote that the knowledge that we must die is “the worm at the core” of the human condition – a universally shared fear that informs all our thoughts and actions, from the great art we create to the devastating wars we wage. Using data collected from human subjects, Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, and Tom Pyszczynski show conclusively that the fear of death and the desire to transcend it inspire us to buy expensive cars, crave fame, put our health at risk, and disguise our animal nature. The fear of death can also prompt judges to dole out harsher punishments, make children react negatively to people different from themselves, and inflame intolerance and violence. But the worm at the core need not consume us.
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