Western cultures often view death as a taboo or something to be feared due to the predominant emphasis on individualism, progress, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. This perspective often frames death as an endpoint, which can evoke anxiety and discomfort. In many Western societies, there is a strong narrative that focuses on maintaining life and avoiding death, leading many to struggle with discussing and contemplating mortality openly. This hesitance can manifest in cultural representations of death that lean towards melancholic or fearful imagery, contributing to the view of death as an event that individuals should be anxious about rather than something natural or integral to life.
In contrast, Eastern cultures tend to adopt a more holistic perspective on death and dying, often viewing it as a natural part of the life cycle. Many Eastern philosophies, such as Buddhism, embrace the concept of life, death, and rebirth, encouraging individuals to see death as a transition rather than an end. This cultural understanding promotes a more accepting attitude towards mortality, often incorporating rituals that honor the deceased and reflect on life’s cyclical nature.
Thus, Western cultures' predominant view of death as a taboo aligns with the answer given, contrasting significantly with the more accepting and reflective attitudes observed in many Eastern cultures.