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Freud’s emphasis on the hedonic element—particularly his association of life’s driving force with sexual impulses—was critiqued as fundamentally flawed. Nonetheless, the speaker maintained that such works could still offer beneficial perspectives, highlighting the need for a discriminating approach to reading.
Similarly, Becker’s notion in "The Denial of Death" was discussed. While the speaker recognized its brilliance, they were critical of Becker's interpretation of a heroic life as a defense against death anxiety, deeming it an interesting, yet ultimately flawed theory.