Ernest Becker
We are gods with anuses, gifted with brilliant minds but cursed with decaying bodies. To survive the paralyzing terror of death, we construct elaborate illusions to convince ourselves we are immortal.
Humans suffer from a profound cognitive dissonance because our expansive, self-aware minds are trapped inside fragile, mortal, and creaturely animal bodies.
To function in everyday life without being paralyzed by the dread of nonexistence, we unconsciously build psychological character armor that represses our inherent vulnerability.
We strive for symbolic immortality by dedicating ourselves to heroism projects, such as raising a family or advancing a cause, to ensure our legacy outlasts our physical demise.