The willingness to die for one’s ideas is the only way in which man can truly be set free. His ideas do not need to be rooted in a just cause, one that fits the correct narrative of the times, or one that he may not truly believe in.
This is true in revolutions, for the leader who is the first to stand against the guards will face certain death. Yet, against all instincts, he no longer fears death and only wishes to advance his ideology, philosophy, and self-interests. He wishes not only to share his thoughts but to impose them on the masses of people as he believes his thoughts are better than the current regime.
This is true for a business leader. In the creation of their enterprise, they may face ruin, bankruptcy, starvation, or even humiliation. They risk their livelihoods and lifestyles for the pursuit of a grand idea that they believe is better than the one that currently exists. They march even with the knowledge that it may fail, and they may be left with nothing.
The nature of the fear of death has the same applications as the fear of starvation or recognition. The fear of death is intrinsic to our drive for radical new ideas. The fear of death pushes us to accept the status quo of society and forces us to exist within its frameworks. Never asking a daring question and never attempting to risk one's thymos, or self-recognition, in the pursuit of radical change.
Once you remove this fear of uncertainty or an unjust outcome from your noble actions you become a free man. Freedom solely lies in man’s ability to not only rationalize his existentialism but overcome any hindrances provided by this understanding of his mortality.
On the contrary, if you do fear death, a harrowing loss, the perception of your thymos in society – then you are condemned to be amongst the masses. Condemned to live in a world that is created and dominated by those who are unafraid of death.
Once confronted with our mortality, most people seek to spend every waking moment with their family, friends, and lovers. On the contrary, one who does not fear death only seeks to spend time controlling the world around them and shaping the masses toward their perception of the world. Their lack of fear bends the will of those who are indebted to their deaths. Since they’ve seized control of the world, those who fear death have no option but to live within its rules and boundaries. To cry out at the unfairness of it all. To blame others for the disposition that life has cast upon you and accept that your condition is all that is and ever will be. That is until the day you arise to their status simply by circumventing your fear of death. Only then, can you challenge the status quo in business, politics, and war.
Once you shed the chains of mortality, you can become a defined person who fears nothing. When you fear nothing, anything becomes possible. Entire nations can become conquered by one man. Millions of soldiers come together at the plight of a single voice. Political movements that change the fabric of society often have humble beginnings from a single man. A man who does not fear death or persecution.
Every unjust or just change in the world is rooted in the man who does not fear his demise, his loss of wealth, his loss of family, or his loss of status. They can feel attachments to them, but they cannot have a fear of losing them. When you have this connectivity to the natural realm, your mind becomes inclined to run from a conflict instead of staring down death into submission.
In the past, this was equated to a duel. A fight between humans to establish who was truly unafraid of death. In our modern times, few men could march ten paces and turn around to shoot their adversary. Our historical figures did this routinely to establish their hierarchy in the world. Our titans of history stared death in the face, pulled the trigger, and did not bat an eye at the possibility of his demise. Those on the other side of the gun are as powerful as those who won. For them, a life without risk would never be one to live at all. They died triumphant over their natural master mortality. Their lack of fear proved their ability to overcome this human condition. He did not compromise on his ideals. He walked into the duel to prove that he was a master of his destiny and that he would not submit to another master.
If the worst we must fear is death, then why not try life? Living life under the veil of a constant dodging of death, which is inevitable, will only lead you to a life of destitution, lack of resources, and lack of authority. Overcoming this is the opposite of human nature. Our instincts are to run, to flee a predator, and to hide at the sight of a force stronger than ourselves. Yet, the idea of overcoming these instincts is the path to building yourself into the true vision of humanity. A humanity that is always free with unlimited individuality and creation.
This is what humanity is supposed to be. It is what defines us as different from the insects and the apes. An animal that can rationalize away death in a way no other beast can. A group of creatures who can take incredible risks without any fear or afterthought of what happens. Our ability to logically overcome our instincts in the pursuit of evolving ourselves to heights unknown to previous generations.
Our society places a hindrance on this advancement. The frameworks place limiting beliefs on those who wish to break free and become masters themselves. You may be ridiculed for your ideas, race, religion, or creed. These frameworks exist only in the perception of that society. There are no human rules that exist. The only rule that applies to every human or living thing is that of mortality, which we are unlikely to ever solve. Once you have overcome this fear of mortality, then can you become free and only then does our society continue to innovate, grow, and prosper with the creations of technologists, artists, and innovators.
The only ones who push us further, are those who detach themselves from their mortality.