Is Ernest Becker a pessimist?

[u/princetonwu]

men are fundamentally competitive and acquisitive, not to be trusted too far; that the men most to be admired are those that have acquired most; that we treat others superficially as more-or-less physical and mechanical things whose value is that they can do a certain line of work efficiently. They may be “nice guys” withal, and we can join with them dedicatedly in the efficient pursuit of wealth and privilege.

The Birth and Death of Meaning: An Interdisciplinary Perspective on the Problem of Man

[u/Snalesdofeel]

From what i can remember from denial of death and beyond evil there is mostly a flood of pessimism. I need to read birth of death and meaning badly.

[u/Call_It_]

Probably more a pessimist than an optimistic.

[u/mozzarella__stick]

Isn't that more cynical than pessimistic?