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West's Teenage Paranoia
- Stephen West recounts his experience with irrational fears as a teenager.
- He was hyper-vigilant, scared of everyday situations like flying, and constantly anticipated threats.
Fear as a Double-Edged Sword
- West realized that fear, like medicine, can be helpful in small doses but harmful in excess.
- He initially tried to eliminate fear entirely, influenced by Epictetus, but Hobbes changed his perspective.
Fear and the Social Contract
- Hobbes argues that fear motivates self-preservation in the state of nature.
- This same fear, when excessive, drives individuals to seek the social contract's protection.