Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           ”Thefirstselfisthephysicalself—theonethateats,sleeps,snores,andpoops.Thesecondselfisourconceptualself—ouridentity,orhowweseeourselves.

           Becker’sargumentisthis:Weareallawareonsomelevelthatourphysicalselfwilleventuallydie,thatthisdeathisinevitable,andthatitsinevitability—onsomeunconsciouslevel—scarestheshitoutofus.Therefore,inordertocompensateforourfearoftheinevitablelossofourphysicalself,wetrytoconstructaconceptualselfthatwillliveforever.Thisiswhypeopletrysohardtoputtheirnamesonbuildings,onstatues,onspinesofbooks.It’swhywefeelcompelledtospendsomuchtimegivingourselvestoothers,especiallytochildren,inthehopesthatourinfluence—ourconceptualself—willlastwaybeyondourphysicalself.Thatwewillberememberedandreveredandidolizedlongafterourphysicalselfceasestoexist.

           Beckercalledsucheffortsour“immortalityprojects,”projectsthatallowourconceptualselftoliveonwaypastthepointofourphysicaldeath.Allofhumancivilization,hesays,isbasicallyaresultofimmortalityprojects:thecitiesandgovernmentsandstructuresandauthoritiesinplacetodaywereallimmortalityprojectsofmenandwomenwhocamebeforeus.Theyaretheremnantsofconceptualselvesthatceasedtodie.NameslikeJesus,Muhammad,Napoleon,andShakespearearejustaspowerfultodayaswhenthosemenlived,ifnotmoreso.Andthat’sthewholepoint.