Avicenna and Ellis Comparatively Studied on Human Fear of Death

Albert Ellis` rational emotional theory is regarded as one of widely used theories for studing the effect of irrational beliefs on anxiety. On this theory, stress is mostly related to irrational beliefs. Avicenna has the same view in thefield. Al-Shifa min Khowfi al-Mowt, one of his works, was codified with technique of conten analysis and, then, was compared with Ellis` theory analytically. As is shown, Avicenna has viewed fear of death to be caused by four main agents including man`s full destruction by death, death`s being accompanied by extraordinary pain, Divine punishment and leaving family and properties. By the comparison made between the two, it has been made clear that both of them have known fear of death as something caused by irrational beliefs. Yet, what is meant by reality for them is different; since Ellis does not believe in an objective and absolute reality but Avicenna does.