Episode 520 - Claire Danes

In 'The Denial of Death', Ernest Becker discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of how people and cultures react to the concept of death. He argues that human civilization is a defense mechanism against the knowledge of our mortality, and that this denial is a necessary component of functioning in the world. Becker's work challenges traditional Freudian thought by positing that the primary repression is not sexuality, but rather the awareness of death. He also explores how this fear of death leads to the creation of 'hero systems' and symbols that help individuals transcend their mortality, and how this can result in violence and conflict when different immortality projects clash.

In *The Violence of Organized Forgetting*, Henry A. Giroux critiques the erosion of democracy and civic engagement in America, highlighting how neoliberal policies and the commodification of everyday life contribute to a culture of mass forgetfulness and conformity. Giroux argues for the importance of critical education and democratic values in challenging these trends.