With the increase of an objective world view-- specifically, of a scientific process for arriving at truths-- I'm curious what you guys think about the role of the ego in understanding the world we observe.
Traditionally, ego was tied in with religious ideas about the soul-- essentially, each of us is a soul looking out through the body, which we wear like a garment while engaged in the struggle between good and evil, or which we must subjugate in order to more clearly see and follow the will of a Deity.
These days, ego seems to be more of an instinctive tendency to write a myth of the self: though I know about brain function and its contribution to behaviors, I still see rapists (for example) as evil fucks. I still see myself as engaged in a struggle between the angel and the devil sitting on my shoulder.
So should I see science as a tool of the self-- a way to get better stuff, to enjoy more health, to add interest to my life? Or should I use science as a kind of razor, using it to identify and destroy those parts of my sense of self which are delusional, or counter-productive? It seems to me the complete annihilation of the self should give one the most objective power of observation and analysis-- but is this paying too high a price?
Traditionally, ego was tied in with religious ideas about the soul-- essentially, each of us is a soul looking out through the body, which we wear like a garment while engaged in the struggle between good and evil, or which we must subjugate in order to more clearly see and follow the will of a Deity.
These days, ego seems to be more of an instinctive tendency to write a myth of the self: though I know about brain function and its contribution to behaviors, I still see rapists (for example) as evil fucks. I still see myself as engaged in a struggle between the angel and the devil sitting on my shoulder.
So should I see science as a tool of the self-- a way to get better stuff, to enjoy more health, to add interest to my life? Or should I use science as a kind of razor, using it to identify and destroy those parts of my sense of self which are delusional, or counter-productive? It seems to me the complete annihilation of the self should give one the most objective power of observation and analysis-- but is this paying too high a price?
