Psychology Professor Steen Halling and the Psychology Department welcome the Ernest Becker Foundation for its annual conference on campus October 6 – 7. Becker, a cultural anthropologist and existential thinker, addressed fundamental issues such as human consciousness, transcendence, and the nature of evil. Becker died in 1974.

Becker examined human behavior with an eye toward reducing violence,” said Halling. “The presentations will apply his ideas to important issues of today.”

Topics at the conference include the nature of corporations, the significance of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, terror management theory, and Becker and the death-denying function of play.

Presenters include Professors Sheldon Solomon. Skidmore College; Kirby Farrell, University of Massachusetts-Amherst; and Philip Hansten, University of Washington.

This conference is open to the public by advance registration on the Ernest Becker website.  Seattle University faculty and staff may register ($50 fee) on Saturday morning. The conference is free for Seattle University students.

The College of Arts and Sciences, the largest college in Seattle University, offers 42 undergraduate majors, 37 minors, and 7 master’s degrees, including an M.A. in Psychology.