Book

Chapter 2 of Survive focuses primarily on the psychological aspects of survival. It introduces concepts of the ego and the self. Some historical notes starting with Freudian definitions of the ego are included as we explore the concept of ego survival. We also look at ways the concept of self-identification with the ego, drive and define the belief in who we are as differentiated self-identifying beings separate from everyone else. We develop the belief that we are the ego. It fits nicely with philosopher Rene Descartes’s statement, “I think therefore I am.” I am the thinker. We become self-confident in this belief and that is the ego-self. Whether that conclusion is true or not at this point is not considered.  

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At this stage of development, we begin to focus on self-concepts, particularly those associated with what we have called the ego-self. The question of “Who am I?” begins to take up more space in our consciousness: our talents, what we have done and accomplished, our looks, our social position, our thoughts and the belief that we are the one doing the thinking. Again, that is who we believe we are as individual persons. As our brain matures, we become more cognizant of our desires and our need to fulfill those desires through that ego-self that interacts with the world. We carefully develop an identity, through which we perceive the world and the view we have of ourselves.

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How beliefs are formed and how we go through the process of making decisions are explored using Chris Argyris’s (1923–2013), Ladder of Inference.  It is a metaphorical ladder of our thinking process first proposed by Argyris, a Harvard business school professor, in 1970. The ladder is a way of describing how one moves from a piece of data—be it a comment made to them, something they read, or something they observed—through a series of mental processes to a conclusion.    

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Ultimately,Chapter 2 demonstrates how we depend on a more sophisticated understanding of group dynamics and interpersonal relationships. Some of the limitations of our decision-making processes are made clearer with a discussion of free will and whether it actually exists. All of these ideas and behaviors are conditioned by our experiences—from our earliest memories and impressions of how we were raised and treated as we grew up to the daily push and pull of our interactions with others that continue to foster self-concepts. We become gradually more expansive through social interaction and mutual dependency, while simultaneously slowly diminishing the ego’s sense of primacy (it’s not always all about me).  However, we desperately hang on to that sense of primacy, and that narcissistic tendency is explored through a review of psychologist Eric Fromm’s comments on individual and group narcissism, which explores the depth and breadth of our sense of who we are and how we extend that sense of self to others be it family, ethnic group, or nation.  

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Chapter 3 leans toward what I view as “metaphysical” considerations, although the biological aspects brought out in Chapter 1 and the psychological aspects highlighted in Chapter 2 have handprints here too, since they are ultimately interconnected and exist simultaneously with one another. Like with Maslow’s Hierarchy, once attaining a higher level we do not simply ignore the lower levels (we still need to eat).  

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Ego development theory by Lawrence Kohlberg and a very expansive one by Jane Loevinger are introduced as models of ego development as we explore what it means to transcend or transform the ego. Both Kohlberg and Loevinger track ego development from infancy to adulthood and explain what attitudes and behaviors are demonstrated at each stage. These appear to correspond to a process of maturation, going from selfishness to selflessness eventually attaining a state where we are able to let go of the need for the kind of ego gratification that existed in earlier stages. However, both Kohlberg and Loevinger found few individuals who had reached that stage.  

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Continuing with our exploration of metaphysics is an investigation of the concept of “knowing” outside the rationalist school of science. The purpose is to expand our prospects for survival. For example, for real knowing to exist, can we afford to exclude practices like empiricism (knowing through doing)—we “know” how to ride a bike because we have learned to do so—or intuition, being guided by the strength of one’s feelings or impulses? They all have their strengths and weaknesses, but they have informed people for thousands of years? “Flow” and the meditative practice of mindfulness both inform and expand our understanding of cause and effect relationships or why we do what we do. These two processes are looked at with an eye toward being open minded as to the benefits of these practices and the interdisciplinary contributions they add to discovery. But to discover what?  

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Ultimately, this book takes the reader on a journey to explore the evolution of consciousness to answer the perhaps surprisingly elusive question: “Who am I?” Does nature instill us with the desire to survive to discover that answer?

Survive can be purchased through Amazon: (https://www.amazon.com/Survive-Why-We-Do-What-ebook/dp/B0BNWF4HFM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1D17ISEMF2UWR&keywords=survive+by+jerry+pannone&qid=1672684345&sprefix=%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/survive-jerry-pannone/1140970420?ean=9781803410906 and other major retailers.

SURVIVE AUDIOBOOK can be purchased through Spotify, Google play, Chirp, Walmart, and other audiobook outlets. At present, it is not yet available through Audible.