Flight From Death

Just saw an excellent documentary called Flight From Death: The Quest for Immortality. Inspired by the ideas of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ernest Becker, this documentary explores our how man’s “denial of death” impacts his life. (Here’s a hint: it’s a hell of a lot more than you might imagine.) Far from some high-level philosophical discussion, you will learn as much about yourself, your family, friends and associates as you will mankind in general.

The film also includes a fascinating look at some psychological experiments based on Terror Management Theory. For me, the results of these experiments are every bit as profound as those from Stanley Milgram’s “Obedience to Authority” work.

As you might guess, much of the film is dark and sobering, but in the end, I found its message hopeful and life-affirming.

For those interested in human nature, you’ll be hardpressed to find a more enlightening film than this one. Just released on DVD, you can watch the trailer and get more information at:

Flight From Death

Posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 11:04 PM

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(2) Reader Comments about Flight From Death

Richard Lee says...

Wow! That trailer really got me thinking. We talk about the motivators of man such as hunger, liking, social proof etc but I think you may have hit upon something unique in the immortality motivator. My perception is that I can somehow control or at least have control over all these other aspects but death, on the other hand, is inevitable. It is an event we know with certainty can not be put off and we rarely have any idea of the timing of the event. Perhaps immortality is the strongest motivator of all and does manifest itself in ever aspect of our behavior and lives. Man, I love talking about this stuff!

Posted on 10/15/2005 at 03:53 AM

Blair Warren says...

Hi Richard,

If you liked the trailer, you will *love* the movie. It is deep, dark, disturbing and ultimately enlightening and liberating. Then read Becker’s book The Denial of Death. It tackles these ideas on a much broader, deeper level. It didn’t win the Pulitzer Prize for nothing.

Blair

Posted on 10/15/2005 at 07:15 PM