It vs Thou

 

It Vs. Thou Ego

When considering the simple concept of an ego, thoughts and realizations are brought to light. The ego contributes to the difference between what can be considered it versus Thou. It can be considered what holds boundaries and consists only of experience. Being considered or referred to as it, often creates a boundary from reductionism, causing it to be considered only an object. Buber states that, “It allows itself to be experienced, but is not concerned, for it contributes nothing, and nothing happens to it” (56). So having an ego takes away from encounters and creates only experiences resulting in becoming simply an object in the world.

For example, while younger I never really considered the world of plants as more than just objects. I used to believe that they held a single purpose or project, photosynthesizing for the world. Moreover, I simply named all nature from extravagant flowers to small shrubs and grass as objects in the world. However, in class the idea that every creation has its own project makes me understand that nature has its own universal project. Within this universal project one can find individual projects contributing as a whole. Thus, creating the concept of nature being really subjects rather than objects. Nature and all it holds can universally be considered the thou, rather than the it.

Human’s hold the same universal project as nature does. This project can be depicted as living, contributing, and reproducing. All living plants and animals contribute to the main project of sustaining life. However, the it comes into play when some individual projects become more important; this results in the ego clouding life. Furthermore, the ego creates a subject who objectifies others and in return isolates himself from the encounters. The ego only experiences the world, it does not encounter due to such isolation.