149 posts shown.
stormycanyon11 said:Was the concept of the "self" somehow less valid before we started living through computer screens?
It really just comes down to how you define the self, man, because if you look at it as the id, ego, and superego, then we're talking about pure mental constructs cooked up by our own brains.
As for whether this "I" existed before the brain, I'm not buying it, since the brain is basically me, and once that shuts down, the whole concept of the "I" is pretty much toast.
If you're looking for those mystical or metaphysical answers that fall outside the realm of hard science, Terry Kim3 is probably your guy for that kind of talk.
Terry Kim3 said:The "Self" has always existed—forever, really. It doesn't actually live within the constraints of time, because time itself is nothing more than an illusion we've been conditioned to accept.
Think of it this way: imagine the "Self" is the user operating a computer. When the hardware eventually crashes or dies, the user simply goes out and buys a new machine. In this sense, the "Self" remains constant, while the ego—that smaller, fleeting version of us—is what changes throughout a lifetime. The ego has a shelf life, sure, but its experiences don't just vanish into thin air; they get integrated back into the core "Self."
Look, I’m just not the type of guy who can sit here and start throwing definitions around if I don't have some actual, hard evidence to back them up.
Terry Kim3 said:I’ve always looked at it this way—when we’re born, the brain is essentially just an underdeveloped operating system, barely capable of handling the most basic functions. As we grow up, we start downloading all these additional programs through our upbringing—stuff that eventually hardens into our ego and our distinct personalities. It’s basically what we acquire from being raised by the world around us.
The real question, though—and it’s a heavy one—is who actually wrote the initial code, who hit the "start" button, and what exactly is their end goal for the whole system?🤷
It's a self-contained, self-evolving program, for sure.
But when you look at the question 🤷
Terry Kim3 said:Yeah, you’ve got a point there—the subconscious isn't really our "ego." It's more like the ROM of the system, where everything is permanently etched in, whereas our conscious mind acts like the RAM.
So, if we're following that logic, the ego would be this collection of memory split between those RAM and ROM components, layered with all the other software—our personality, our convictions, our biases—all running on the physical hardware of our bodies.😁
In that sense, the "small self" is just the combination of hardware and software, while the "true self"—the big picture—is essentially the user operating the computer.🤔
That’s an interesting take, but I’m just not buying it.
Our brains are totally self-sufficient powerhouses that run the whole show on their own, so we definitely don't need some higher power calling the shots for us.
I mean, maybe we could just play it like this;
Our brains are basically just computers, man—it's like some high-level software was booted up by someone out there who’s just sitting back and watching the whole show unfold.
So, I’ll say it: the subconscious isn't just some massive, inflated ego.
The subconscious is basically that whole layer of how you experience life, act, and think—all those things happening beneath the surface that you can't grab onto with your conscious memory right now.
wiki
"People usually use the term as a casual way to talk about the unconscious mind, which Freud thought was basically a storage bin for all those socially awkward ideas, suppressed desires, traumatic stuff, or painful feelings we shove away through psychological repression. But honestly, the stuff hiding in there doesn't always have to be bad news."
Here’s an example. You’re standing in line at Starbucks, chatting away with a buddy, when suddenly you hear your own name mentioned in a conversation by two people standing right behind you.
It’s not like you consciously decided to eavesdrop on them; your brain was actually tracking the whole conversation the entire time without you even realizing it, because your focus was totally locked in on your friend.
But since your brain was listening in the background, the second it caught your name, it forced your attention over to them.
That rest of their conversation stays tucked away in your subconscious for a bit, and you could technically tap into it through something like hypnosis.
My take?
Maybe there really is a divine part of the Self, some kind of original essence, but who knows? Until we have proof, I’m staying skeptical and looking for answers that actually make sense and satisfy me completely.
Terry Kim3 said:The ego is indeed me—you’re spot on there. Every person possesses an ego, a sort of "small self," which is actually a necessity for navigating this material existence we find ourselves in.
Think of it as a limited consciousness—the version of us currently operating in the physical realm—and our whole life's work is essentially trying to expand that awareness. Why it works that way? Honestly, I haven't a clue.
Then there's the "Great Self"—that divine spark within us that represents who we truly are at our core, the part of us that returns home after death.
I’d argue it’s possible to tap into that "Great Self" if we can just stay present in the here and now—if we can manage to quiet the mental noise. In fact, I suspect our subconscious might actually be that "Great Self" in disguise.
I'm totally sold on this part...
Terry Kim3 said:The ego is indeed me—you’re spot on there. Every person possesses an ego, a sort of "small self," which is actually a necessity for navigating this material existence we find ourselves in.
Think of it as a limited consciousness—the version of us currently operating in the physical realm—and our whole life's work is essentially trying to expand that awareness. Why it works that way? Honestly, I haven't a clue.
Then there's the "Great Self"—that divine spark within us that represents who we truly are at our core, the part of us that returns home after death.
I’d argue it’s possible to tap into that "Great Self" if we can just stay present in the here and now—if we can manage to quiet the mental noise. In fact, I suspect our subconscious might actually be that "Great Self" in disguise.
...but I'm not buying that last bit.
Man, I went through that whole "nothing matters" phase too. Honestly, I still see how most things we do just lack any inherent purpose, but I keep showing up and doing them anyway because of the love I have for the people around me and seeing them happy. I totally get where you're coming from—I've been exactly where you are. I didn't go out and find some grand meaning hidden under a rock, I just decided to create my own.
electrichound94 said:I keep getting hit by this overwhelming sense of futility. For instance, I’m sitting here supposed to be studying, but I can’t help but ask—what’s the point? At the end of the day, we all die. So why bother?🤷 Instead of just living life to the fullest and having some fun.
It has even reached the point where scrolling through this forum feels pointless. (I mean, obviously, everything is somewhat meaningless😁, but at least it used to be engaging.) Now, I honestly couldn't care less about reading anything. What for? It’s just the same old topics, the same personalities—it’s all just a massive waste of time...
Nothing really feels meaningful anymore.
I know what comes next: people telling me to go see a therapist. But for what? To get "tools" to help me function until my time runs out? Why am I even here?🤷 Why should I do anything at all? It’s all just a Sisyphus job.
You should check out Albert Camus—read "The Stranger" and "The Myth of Sisyphus."👍