I
spend a lot of time wondering what it's like to have the mind of another
animal. Not a species that exists in a completely different way than we do,
like fish or insects. More like the internal life of a cat, or dog, or horse,
or bird, or other species that humans are better able to relate to. They're
said to not exactly have an ego, because they don't have a sense of self. They
don't contemplate themselves or recognize their reflections in mirrors. But in
another way, they really do seem to have a sense of self because they have
distinct desires, fears, likes and dislikes. They form attachments and
aversions to other creatures. Those traits all seem rooted in ego because they
stem from the way the animal is treated, and what makes them feel good, and
what seems like a threat. If not an ego, that's definitely a will. So I wonder
what it's like to live with a will but no ego, and if that's even possible for
humans with the ways our brains are structured.
