ABSTRACT
The quotation from Fromm is very relevant for the study of accidents, although it was not written with accidents in mind. It has been known since the days of Aristotle that humans have a thirst for knowledge, a need to find out about things. This has been pointed out an endless number of times since then, and often with considerable pride. It is, indeed, because of the never-ending search for knowledge, the eternal curiosity, the incessant need to ask 'what' and to fmd out 'why' - as every parent knows to his or her despair - that humankind has raised itself over the animals and has achieved the current level of development. (Though we need of course not be equally proud of every achievement.)
The view of Erich Fromm, however, puts a damper on the initial enthusiasm. Fromm points out that we in many cases seek certainty rather than knowledge. We want to know, not because of a thirst for pure knowledge, but to drive out the demons of uncertainty. (See also the quotation from Friderich Nietzsche in Chapter 1.) As a species, we tend to feel insecure and apprehensive if there is something for which we cannot fmd an explanation. It does not really matter of which type the explanation is, whether it is rational and scientific, emotional, religious, irrational and superstitious, etc. An explanation is needed and an explanation we must have.
