6.1: Becker, TMT, and Existentialist Video Resources

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Check out these videos to learn more about Ernest Becker and terror management theory, as well as other existential ponderings!

Thumbnail for the embedded element "Mother Forkin' Morals with Dr. Todd May - Part 1: Existentialism - The Good Place (Exclusive)"

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Mother Forkin’ Morals with Todd May: Existentialism

Dr. Todd May, Professor of Philosopher explains existentialism and existential crises in relation to the TV show, The Good Place (4:11).

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The Philosophy of Darth Vader

Wisecrack summarizes Becker and relates his ideas to Darth Vader (12:30).

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Existential Bummer

How do we life live, knowing that we will die (2:53)?

Thumbnail for the embedded element "Grave Matters: The Role of Death in Life - Sheldon Solomon, PhD"

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Grave Matters lecture by Sheldon Solomon

Lecture by Sheldon Solomon, PhD, Professor of psychology at Skidmore College and co-author of The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life (1:26:16).

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4 stories we tell ourselves about death

In this TED talk, Stephen Cave talks about ways we strive for symbolic and literal immortality (15:53).

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The Death Problem

Thumbnail for the embedded element "Stephen Cave - Immortality"

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Stephen Cave lecture

Whether physically, spiritually or perhaps through a legacy, philosopher Stephen Cave discusses how the relentless quest to live forever has influenced and shaped civilization since the dawn of humankind (51:42).

Thumbnail for the embedded element "Ernest Becker and Heroism"

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Academy of Ideas–Ernest Becker and heroism

In this lecture The Academy of Ideas investigates what Ernest Becker called the universal urge to heroism. We look at the different ways Becker proposed individuals strive for heroism, and introduce what he called genuine heroism (9:23).

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The Human Condition

Jason Silva on the Human Condition, inspired by Ernest Becker (2:41).

Thumbnail for the embedded element "Ernest Becker and the Fear of Death"

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Ernest Becker and the Death Problem

In this lecture The Academy of Ideas looks at the 20th century cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker’s ideas regarding how the fear of death haunts the human being, shaping one’s experience of reality. We look at how Becker thought individuals alleviate this fear by striving to live meaningful and significant lives (8:49).