The Worm at the Core

“It is our knowledge that we have to die that makes us human.” -?Alexander Smith, Author of “Dreamthorp”

How does death and our fear of it dictate how we live our lives?

Dr. Sheldon Solomon, Professor of Psychology at Skidmore College, set out to answer this question in his book, “The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life.“

The book is a culmination of 25 years of in-depth research by Dr. Solomon and his colleagues. In it, he argues that the human awareness of death, and our unwillingness to accept that fact, is the primary motivational impetus for almost everything we do.

Here are some of the important topics covered in the book:

1. Self-esteem: According to Terror Management Theory (TMT), people cope with death anxiety by seeking self-esteem through their cultural worldviews. Individuals strive to meet the standards and expectations of their society, thereby gaining a sense of value and symbolic immortality. The need for self-esteem can drive people to engage in activities that boost their self-worth, sometimes leading to negative behaviors, such as excessive competition and self-enhancement.
2. Aggression: Death anxiety can also fuel aggressive behavior, as individuals seek to protect their cultural worldviews and self-esteem. Dr. Solomon provides evidence from experiments where reminders of mortality led to increased aggression toward those who threatened or criticized one's beliefs.
3. Pursuit of wealth and power: The fear of death can drive individuals to seek wealth, status, and power as a means of achieving symbolic immortality and distancing themselves from their mortal nature. These pursuits can lead to negative consequences, such as income inequality, exploitation, and materialism.
4. War and terrorism: The fear of death plays a significant role in motivating war and terrorism, as individuals and groups seek to defend and promote their worldviews and gain a sense of heroism and immortality. The book showcases historical examples and presents evidence that mortality salience can increase support for military action and extremist ideologies.
5. Environmental destruction: The book also touches upon the role of death anxiety in environmental destruction. The denial of one's mortality can contribute to overconsumption, resource depletion, and pollution, ultimately harming the planet and future generations.

After reading the book, my main takeaway is that death anxiety is very prevalent in our society and is arguably a contributing factor to many of the issues we face today.

Therefore, if we embrace death instead of fearing it, we can live more consciously and make choices that contribute to a better future for all.

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” - Nelson Henderson

Interview with Lex Fridman

Dr. Solomon’s studies of the effects of the uniquely human awareness of death on behavior have been supported by the National Science Foundation and Ernest Becker Foundation.

If his work interests you, I highly recommend watching his interview with Lex Fridman.

Here’s my favorite clip from the interview:

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