I don’t know what to make about this short article about nostalgia on the BBC website. It all sounds reasonable enough, or as reasonable as pschobabble can be, and yet my own experience doesn’t follow it at all.
It says that people prone to nostalgia (which I am) are less likely to have lingering thoughts about death, but I think about it all the time. Mind you, the whole thing is a bit vague so maybe I am reading it wrong.
It seems to be saying that agreeing with the statement that ‘life has no meaning or purpose’ is somehow negative. Personally I think it is just a neutral statement of fact. Life has no meaning or purpose so just get over it and get on with it. I don’t feel that holding, or agreeing with such a statement necessarily implies any fear of death.
I’m so glad I never studied psychology. I think I would have spent all the lessons just disagreeing with everything and thinking that Terror Management Theory would be a bloody good name for a band.
‘Life has no meaning or purpose’ and agreeing with that implies a fear of death? Sounds like a solidly religious viewpoint. I think I agree with you – life has no purpose. It is is not *for* anything, it just is. That doesn’t mean it is isn’t interesting, fun and something which I appreciate. And death only seems worth fearing if there is going to be a firey pit with brimstone and pitchforks…