Name: The 4 stories we tell ourselves about death
Uploaded: 2013-12-12T16:05:06Z
Duration: 15 min 19 s
Description: Philosopher Stephen Cave begins with a dark but compelling question: When did you first realize you were going to die? And even more interesting: Why do we humans so often resist the inevitability of death? Cave explores four narratives -- common across civilizations -- that we tell ourselves "in order to help us manage the terror of death."

Philosopher Stephen Cave begins with a dark but compelling question: When did you first realize you were going to die? And even more interesting: Why do we humans so often resist the inevitability of death? Cave explores four narratives -- common across civilizations -- that we tell ourselves "in order to help us manage the terror of death."

The 4 stories we tell ourselves about death

The awareness of mortality is a uniquely human burden, sparking a deep urge to deny death through powerful stories. Studies show that when people are reminded of death, they become much more willing to believe in ideas of immortality, whether spiritual or scientific. Across history and cultures, four main types of stories promise ways to escape death, from magical elixirs to digital afterlives. Recognizing these patterns may help loosen their grip and inspire a fuller embrace of the life between our personal bookends.