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Do Our Egos Make Us Stupid?

Sunstone

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
It seems to me that when we embrace ideas, we tend to self-identify with them. That is, the ideas become a part of our ego -- which is our self image. Hence, we tend to defend them as if they were us. And that means in practice that when our ideas are challenged by logic and/or evidence, we are more likely to look for ways to discount, disprove, or dismiss the logic or evidence, than we are to inclined to fairly assess the logic or evidence. Consequently, our egos all too often hinder or prevent us from accepting truths and discarding falsehoods. In short, they make us stupid. Do you agree or disagree with this? Why or why not?

By the way, stupidity, in the context of this thread, is defined as "relative slowness or inability to learn".
 
Kolibri

Kolibri

Well-Known Member
I think it is more pride that is the issue. A lack of humility that puffs up our egos like a puffer-fish.
 
psychoslice

psychoslice

Veteran Member
yes the ego does make us stupid, we are all born with intelligence, we are then made stupid from being conditioned and programmed from society, our parents, and our culture.
 
Kolibri

Kolibri

Well-Known Member
No. But my understanding is not one I developed on my own. And perhaps it could be that the terms Id, Ego, and Super-Ego are ones I need a refresher course on.

I base my answer on Roman 12:3. Where we are told "not to think more of [ourselves] than it is necessary to think, but to think so as to have a sound mind." It is necessary to have some self-worth according to this passage, but it is the puffiness of self-image that robs us of a sound mind.
 
LuisDantas

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
Sunstone said:
It seems to me that when we embrace ideas, we tend to self-identify with them. That is, the ideas become a part of our ego -- which is our self image. Hence, we tend to defend them as if they were us. And that means in practice that when our ideas are challenged by logic and/or evidence, we are more likely to look for ways to discount, disprove, or dismiss the logic or evidence, than we are to inclined to fairly assess the logic or evidence. Consequently, our egos all too often hinder or prevent us from accepting truths and discarding falsehoods.
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Agreed, so far.


In short, they make us stupid.
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Sort of agree, but that is not the word I would choose. More like attached or even panicky.

The behavior itself might qualify better as "stupid", I suppose.


Do you agree or disagree with this? Why or why not?

By the way, stupidity, in the context of this thread, is defined as "relative slowness or inability to learn".
Click to expand...

Oh, I guess I agree then.
 
bobhikes

bobhikes

Nondetermined
Premium Member
Without ego I don't see how you would get intelligence. You have to want to make things your own, you have to want to label things. Think of someone with out ego. They are usually without labels very easy going very accepting. They won't argue with you over semantics.

You definitely need to balance ego but with out it in my opinion you'd be stupider by your definition.

stupid = relative slowness or inability to learn
 
Sunstone

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
bobhikes said:
Without ego I don't see how you would get intelligence. You have to want to make things your own, you have to want to label things.

You definitely need to balance ego but with out it in my opinion you'd be stupider by your definition.
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This does not comport with my own experience of people.
 
Sunstone

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
bobhikes said:
Well I haven't come across any with weak or no ego, you included and I certainly think the ones I debate with all have above average intelligence you included.
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I'll leave the folly of your comments for you to figure out, since you have "above average intelligence", and your ego won't prevent you from seeing that folly.
 
bobhikes

bobhikes

Nondetermined
Premium Member
Sunstone said:
I'll leave the folly of your comments for you to figure out, since you have "above average intelligence", and your ego won't prevent you from seeing that folly.
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Oh I get it you and I have a slowness or inability to learn. To much ego:p
 
bobhikes

bobhikes

Nondetermined
Premium Member
Sunstone said:
It seems to me that when we embrace ideas, we tend to self-identify with them. That is, the ideas become a part of our ego -- which is our self image. Hence, we tend to defend them as if they were us. And that means in practice that when our ideas are challenged by logic and/or evidence, we are more likely to look for ways to discount, disprove, or dismiss the logic or evidence, than we are to inclined to fairly assess the logic or evidence. Consequently, our egos all too often hinder or prevent us from accepting truths and discarding falsehoods. In short, they make us stupid. Do you agree or disagree with this? Why or why not?

By the way, stupidity, in the context of this thread, is defined as "relative slowness or inability to learn".
Click to expand...

I will try another way.

To learn you have to try things you have to seek answers you have to put yourself out to fail. You can only do this if you have self worth or ego. Yes everything you learn is going to add to your ego which in turn will make it stronger and make you seek out more information. Will it hinder you from accepting truths you have strong feelings for yes it will but the alternative is that you just except everything you are told. With out an ego you are a platform for others to write on with very little ability to learn.

Does an ego make you stupid no. Does your ego prevent you from accepting truths no(you emotional ties do). Does you ego prevent you from discarding falsehoods sort of. It stokes your negative emotions and your emotions cause you to not correct the falsehood. The goal is to detach your emotional response from your ego. In my opinion.
 
sandandfoam

sandandfoam

Veteran Member
Even when I shift perspective I cannot separate my 'self' from that perspective. Furthermore, what constitutes 'logic' or 'evidence' depends upon my (shifting?) perspectives.

Heck, even the idea of 'stupid' depends on perspective.

Signed: Bewildered :D
 
Iti oj

Iti oj

Global warming is real and we need to act
Premium Member
Depends. Personally mine pushes me twoards constant growth and learning. I also think the ability to admit that one was wrong is the hight of intelligence.
 
paragon

paragon

Member
Sunstone said:
It seems to me that when we embrace ideas, we tend to self-identify with them. That is, the ideas become a part of our ego -- which is our self image. Hence, we tend to defend them as if they were us. And that means in practice that when our ideas are challenged by logic and/or evidence, we are more likely to look for ways to discount, disprove, or dismiss the logic or evidence, than we are to inclined to fairly assess the logic or evidence. Consequently, our egos all too often hinder or prevent us from accepting truths and discarding falsehoods. In short, they make us stupid. Do you agree or disagree with this? Why or why not?

By the way, stupidity, in the context of this thread, is defined as "relative slowness or inability to learn".
Click to expand...

Learning requires one to change one's mindset of the world, therefore, as a thing of the world, it requires them to change their conception of themselves. If something prevents that from taking place there can be no learning.
 
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