Ernest Becker made important contributions to existential thought and inspired research that would eventually become the science of existential psychology—most notably his The Denial of Death (1973), which won the 1974 Pulitzer Prize. The Ernest Becker Foundation (EBF) then spread the awareness of Becker’s work and ideas, “to advance the understanding of the role of death denial in everyday life, so that we may live together more peacefully.”
Following 2023, which marked both the 50th anniversary of Becker’s The Denial of Death (1973) and the closure of the EBF, the ISSEP is proud to continue to honor the legacy of Ernest Becker through the continued operation of the EBF website (ernestbecker.org), the establishment of an annual set of Ernest Becker Honors (research grant, annual award, conference awards), and the continued cultivation and production of original Becker-related content on our own website (issep.org) each year.
Click the “Learn More” button below to read more about Becker and his contributions, the EBF and its contributions, and how ISSEP is continuing to support the exploration and communication of scholarly engagement with Becker’s ideas through the science of existential psychology.