What Is an Immortality Project?

In his new book, Becker argues that the vast majority of people face a terror of impermanence and insignificance. They engage in what he calls 'a defiant creation of meaning' by acting out an immortality project. Human culture can be seen as reflexive response to our awareness of our own mortality. The purpose of life is to try to use your efforts in this life to leave a lasting impact long after your biological existence ends. This is why people create great works of art or run marathons. And think of what makes this game even work at all. Our societies rely on the fact that we aren't all going to be sitting around worrying about dying one day.