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What is alter ego?

Started by SoldierofFortune, November 23, 2018, 05:41:45 AM

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SoldierofFortune

I seached about "alter ego" on Google but did not get satisfactory results.

I wonder what is your knowkedge and/or opinion about alter ego.

It is said that "there is an other self inside us that shows a different personality to the others, that we cannot even identify that self clearly."

This our other self whispers us what we really want in life, at where we want to see ourselves in life, etc. But when it comes to observe what there really is inside our soul we fail in the most of time. A few of people can determine the true original inner reality of their so-called "soul"...

Baruch

#1
Two ways ... one can be two-minded, it can be animus vs anima (per Jung).

Being two minded means, you have two opinions on something, maybe a purchase (buy or don't buy), opinions that can't both be true.  And you haven't decided yet, or are unable to decide.

Animus vs anima ... for a man, our body is animus (masculine) and our soul is anima (feminine) and for women it is the opposite.  In that POV, being trans-gendered means you are a male whose anima is too strong.  If you are overly masculine, violent and cruel, you are a male whose anima is too weak.  With women, if their animus is too strong, they are feminists.  If their animus is too weak, they are are too compliant.

This is separate from the notion of multiple personality disorder.

In my personal experience, both of those notions apply.  From modern psychology however, our conscious mind is a committee of talents, specialists.  What we do is based on a consensus.  Your ego is the chairman of that committee, its talent is deciding.  Perhaps for someone being unable to decide ... that means their ego is weak.  And an overly strong chairman ignores the input of the other committee members.  Another committee member is what we call, conscience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOkyKyVFnSs

This was recently covered, emotionally, with a cartoon.
Ha’át’íísh baa naniná?
Azee’ Å,a’ish nanídį́į́h?
Táadoo ánít’iní.
What are you doing?
Are you taking any medications?
Don't do that.

Cavebear

Quote from: SoldierofFortune on November 23, 2018, 05:41:45 AM
I seached about "alter ego" on Google but did not get satisfactory results.

I wonder what is your knowkedge and/or opinion about alter ego.

It is said that "there is an other self inside us that shows a different personality to the others, that we cannot even identify that self clearly."

This our other self whispers us what we really want in life, at where we want to see ourselves in life, etc. But when it comes to observe what there really is inside our soul we fail in the most of time. A few of people can determine the true original inner reality of their so-called "soul"...

In evolutionary terms, you are talking about different parts of our brain.  The basic part is leftover from reptiles ans involves aggression and fear.  The next layer is pretty much discrimination of groups and associates.  The more evolved layer is our symbolism and social area. 

Our "alter ego" resides there.  We choose how to represent ourselves to the outside world there.  We don't always succeed at that, but that is our "surface" personality.  Internally, we are all the parts of our brain but our "alter ego" is what most most people see of us in non-stressful situations.

Is that what you were asking?
Atheist born, atheist bred.  And when I die, atheist dead!

aitm

meh. The "alter ego" is merely what we "think" we would do if we "could" do, without repercussion.
A humans desire to live is exceeded only by their willingness to die for another. Even god cannot equal this magnificent sacrifice. No god has the right to judge them.-first tenant of the Panotheust

Baruch

#4
Again, potential nuclear war over ... semantics.  Aitm - I would call that Id, not Ego or Superego (aka conscience).  The Id corresponds to Cavebear's reptilian brain example.  With Ego, we are constructively concerned with our own benefit, but without regard for others.  With Superego ... we are constructively concerned with the benefit of others, in addition to our own ... and wear capes and under-oos on the outside.

Or Alter Ego could mean ... Jekyl & Hyde.  But that Is fiction, I think.  Except drug addiction seems to justify the idea.
Ha’át’íísh baa naniná?
Azee’ Å,a’ish nanídį́į́h?
Táadoo ánít’iní.
What are you doing?
Are you taking any medications?
Don't do that.

Cavebear

Quote from: Baruch on November 24, 2018, 08:38:21 PM
Again, potential nuclear war over ... semantics.  Aitm - I would call that Id, not Ego or Superego (aka conscience).  The Id corresponds to Cavebear's reptilian brain example.  With Ego, we are constructively concerned with our own benefit, but without regard for others.  With Superego ... we are constructively concerned with the benefit of others, in addition to our own ... and wear capes and under-oos on the outside.

Or Alter Ego could mean ... Jekyl & Hyde.  But that Is fiction, I think.  Except drug addiction seems to justify the idea.

Sorry to bring this up late, but it relates to something I just read.  Superman's alter ego is Clark Kent , but Peter Parker's alter ego is Spiderman.  See the difference?
Atheist born, atheist bred.  And when I die, atheist dead!

Baruch

Quote from: Cavebear on December 29, 2018, 05:37:02 PM
Sorry to bring this up late, but it relates to something I just read.  Superman's alter ego is Clark Kent , but Peter Parker's alter ego is Spiderman.  See the difference?

We can't all be Kryptonians, eh Cave-El?
Ha’át’íísh baa naniná?
Azee’ Å,a’ish nanídį́į́h?
Táadoo ánít’iní.
What are you doing?
Are you taking any medications?
Don't do that.

SGOS

#7
Alter ego is a word I never looked up.  I just seemed to think I knew what it meant.  Now that you pose the question, I'm realizing my idea of the alter ego is a foggy concept.  I always assumed it was another self, usually a worse self, but not necessarily. 

In fact, just the word "ego" is foggy enough.  At one time, I thought it was a bad thing, because everyone was always saying he (usually it only pertained to men) had a fragile ego.  It was something that had to handled carefully because it could break, but if you were mad at the guy, breaking his ego was something you could do to empower yourself.  Later, I learned the ego was just who you think you are, but it's use in context implied it was more complicated than that.

Cavebear

Quote from: SGOS on December 30, 2018, 09:59:19 AM
Alter ego is a word I never looked up.  I just seemed to think I knew what it meant.  Now that you pose the question, I'm realizing my idea of the alter ego is a foggy concept.  I always assumed it was another self, usually a worse self, but not necessarily. 

In fact, just the word "ego" is foggy enough.  At one time, I thought it was a bad thing, because everyone was always saying he (usually it only pertained to men) had a fragile ego.  It was something that had to handled carefully because it could break, but if you were mad at the guy, breaking his ego was something you could do to empower yourself.  Later, I learned the ego was just who you think you are, but it's use in context implied it was more complicated than that.

"Alter Ego" is assuming a persona that you are actually not.  Bruce Wayne "becomes" Batman.  Peter Parker "becomes" Spiderman.  They both have real persons living a real life.  But Superman IS Superman.  HIS alter ego is a mere mortal, Clark Kent, basically a fake person.  It is the flip of the usual. 
Atheist born, atheist bred.  And when I die, atheist dead!