CMV: It is a natural instinct to try to feel superior to others.

submitted by Alduin from (self.changemyview)

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[–]Robin 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

I think racism is closely connected to death anxiety. Becker explains quite a lot of human psychology from this perspective. I think he was broadly correct: https://saidit.net/s/Death/comments/ctn/the_flight_from_death_2_hour_radio_show_focused/

[–]Alduin[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I haven't read The Denial of Death or listened to this particular podcast, but I'm reading here a bit about it.

The book’s basic premise is that human civilization is a defense mechanism against the knowledge that we will die.

and

People try to create or become part of something which they believe will last forever—art, music, literature, religion, nation-states, social and political movements, etc. Such connections, they believe, give their lives meaning.

So if I can broadly connect the dots here... Racism has roots in people wanting to preserve their heritage, which they equate with themselves, as a means to live on beyond death. Is that roughly correct?

[–]Robin 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Mmmmm, roughly. Immortality through a larger self which persists.

[–]Alduin[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I could certainly see that perspective. I think there are several factors that come together for racism to take root, and this is definitely one I had not considered. It may be even more central to the idea than the need to feel superior.

If we had bots to do deltas I would award a delta for this. But we don't so.. Thanks!