In some sense the idea of a separate self is an invention. Names are an invention—the idea that I can be represented as “Kevin” and I am different from other humans. The invention is so obvious nowadays that we take it for granted.
It isn’t unique to humans, though… at least parrots and dolphins also have sequences of sounds that they use to identify specific individuals. Maybe those species are much more “human-like” than we currently expect.
I wonder a lot where to draw the line for animal welfare. It’s hard to worry about planaria. But animals that have names, animals whose family calls to them by name… maybe that has something to do with where to draw the line.
In some sense the idea of a separate self is an invention. Names are an invention—the idea that I can be represented as “Kevin” and I am different from other humans. The invention is so obvious nowadays that we take it for granted.
It isn’t unique to humans, though… at least parrots and dolphins also have sequences of sounds that they use to identify specific individuals. Maybe those species are much more “human-like” than we currently expect.
I wonder a lot where to draw the line for animal welfare. It’s hard to worry about planaria. But animals that have names, animals whose family calls to them by name… maybe that has something to do with where to draw the line.