Final answer:
Fear is an emotional response driven by our imagination of future events, differing from actual danger which represents a tangible threat. While danger is real, fear is subjective and often results from perceptions rather than reality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. Do not misunderstand me danger is very real, but fear is a choice." suggests that while danger is an actual, tangible occurrence that can pose a real threat, fear itself is an emotional response that is generated by our thoughts and perceptions, particularly about future events that have not yet occurred and may never happen. This concept implies that fear is subjective and can lead to unnecessary anxiety about one's safety or well-being.
The quotation from the supposed campaign emphasizes how fear can be used manipulatively to suggest imminent threats to democracy, necessitating urgent action or changes in government. Similarly, the character's terror about the future in the literature excerpt shows how fear can be paralyzing even without real danger being present. These texts illustrate the psychology behind fear and its often-irrational nature, highlighting the difference between perceived threats and actual dangers.
In terms of reality, the statement suggests that the past and the future, much like fear, do not exist in a way that can be physically experienced; they are constructs of our memory and anticipation, respectively. Therefore, the past and future cannot determine our actions in the present; we interpret them through our imagination and decide how to let them influence us.
In the context of stress in the modern world, reactions such as the fight or flight response to perceived but not real physical threats demonstrate how psychological fears can lead to health consequences, indicating that the evolutionary mechanism for handling danger is not always adaptive in contemporary society.
Considering the various points, fear can indeed be seen, not as an inevitable response, but as a result of our individual perception and choice about the unknown future, shaped by our imagination and experiences.