Mortality: One of Existential Psychology's 4 Ultimate Concerns

Mortality is a men's discussion evening held by the Men's Life Discussion Group in North Hills, Raleigh, on November 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM, for men who want honest conversation rather than small talk. The exact location is shared over WhatsApp.

The topic is death, one of the four "ultimate concerns" in existential psychology. The group looks at Irvin Yalom's view that awareness of death shapes how people live even when they avoid it, and at Ernest Becker's argument in The Denial of Death that much human behavior defends against death anxiety. It also covers the Stoic practice of memento mori, which uses the reminder that life is finite to focus attention on what matters. Suggested questions include how you avoid thinking about your own death and what that costs you, what you would stop and start doing if you took your limited time seriously, and whether awareness of death makes life more vivid or mostly heavy. Nobody has to answer them all.

The evening opens with a short introduction to the group and its ground rules. A facilitator is present, but the discussion is mostly free form. It ends with a brief wrap-up, with no homework and no pressure to share more than you want to. No background in psychology or philosophy is needed. The ground rules are:

• Respect perspectives that differ from yours.
• No unsolicited advice and no "I'm sorry"; respond with curiosity and acknowledgment.
• What is shared in the room stays in the room.

To attend, join the newcomer group on WhatsApp and say you are interested. Space is limited, so get in touch as soon as possible if you plan to come. If WhatsApp gives you trouble, message the organiser directly through Meetup.