reply to post by LilFox
I have read most posts and found lots of conjecture about this vague thing called the ego, with little attempt to
clearly define what is meant
by the term.
Personally, I think phrases like 'my ego' are language traps. They take for granted the idea that I have a real, identifiable component called an
ego, which is as much a part of me as my hair. What reasoning is there to say that the ego is some kind of discrete thing that can be described in
terms of its features?
To me, it exists only as much as a fantasy or fear that one might obsess about. Particular thought patterns that keep re-appearing in our daily
thought chatter.
I generally avoid the term ego, because I think it is mostly meaningless/useless. If I were to try to describe it, I might say that it is a way to
group the delusional stories we recite on a daily basis.
"I'll never be good at sports. I'm just not an athletic person."
Absolute delusion, unless of course you can predict the future.
"I am a successful business person."
Once again, delusion. How can you be a category? If you are fired, do you cease to exist? Of course not.
Identifying with symbols, thoughts, ideas is dangerous ground. Why do we even need to define ourselves in this way? I don't think we need to destroy
the ego. I think we just need to let go of the compulsion to define, categorise, label ourselves and others like we are some kind of discrete objects
that can be adequately described on a piece of paper.
Don't call me a christian, agnostic, atheist, liberal, conservative, man, woman, square, hippy, bastard, saint....I'm just me.