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RE: Know thyself
I don't know if you believe in this, but... a soul. A soul that seeks truth, goodness, justice, and liberty, just like any other soul, trying to know thyself without falling into the error of believing that I am the ego.
Maybe I was a little reductionist in saying that the ego is a evil thing, because in effect, I think there is nothing inherently evil. Although I do believe that you can live a life without self-perception.
Maybe my answer is not the kind of answer you expected, but it's the best I have for now.
I am very open minded to the idea of some kind of "soul" or "souls". I appreciate the qualities you mentioned! I think the ego is just part of who we are, a necessary part for existence to work, though definitely not the whole and full story from how I see it!
Hmmm.. Nothing inherently evil? I'm not totally sure I understand that, especially when it seems like you were saying morality is objective? Perhaps you could clarify a bit more?
And, how can you live a life without self perception? A life might be able to live, like a plant or something probably has no awareness of itself, yet lives... Yet... how can "you" live without a perception of self? If you had no concept of who of an ego or perception of self, who would it be that is living in your body?
And that's okay! I'm not really expecting any particular answer, and I'm happy to hear what different people believe in regards to such. :) Thanks for giving it a go and trying to answer! :D
I think there are good things, and not so good things when talking about goodness, but nothing inherently good or evil except good in itself or evil in itself. Only good in itself is inherently good, and the same with evil, but nothing else is inherently good or evil.
A life of a monk maybe.
I think the same.
Thanks for expanding/clarifying. :)
I tend to agree with this, however, is there truly a sort of universal good or evil that exists outside of the perceptions of humans or other animals/aliens/spirits/etc? Or do you just sort of mean that in the intangible philosophical/mental sort of sense where it exists subjectively in the minds of sentient beings?
Hmmm.... Something to think about. Though, to me it seems like any being once they have seen themselves in a mirror or reflection will achieve self perception and many will be able to do it without even seeing themselves directly just by looking at their own body or how they move through existence based on willpower.
Word.
Yeah, it is what I think. In order for humans to perceive good, there must be something perceptible to what they give that name.
Maybe the ego is not only self-perception, but an idea that is formed in the heads of people who tell them who they are supposed to be. And that is formed, mainly through self-perception. Otherwise, we should admit that even animals have ego.