Of course we avoid death. To know something is inevitable is one thing. To accept to truly feel it... that's different.
Coming to understand a painting or a symphony in an unfamiliar style to recognize the work of an artist or school to see or hear in new ways is as cognitive an achievement as learning to read or write or add.
In school, I studied psychology, linguistics, neuroscience. I understand...
Any fool can know. The point is to understand.
If you want to learn something, just steal it