Evolution

[I_am_not_mafia]

I get your point about it being an anthropomorphic term that assumes arbitrary boundaries in systems which are part of a larger whole.

But then you could also say the same thing about animals and humans who also have a theory of mind.

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i was speaking about animals that have a theory of mind. Under which other states should we use the term "self"?

Sorry, my mistake, the word 'also' made it look like I was saying that theory of mind exists in lower life forms than animals (possibly fish, insects etc as well).

I was trying to make the whole point that the same processes apply to systems regardless of whether they are simple chemical cycles, or very complex bio-physical / chemical systems such as a brain that has a theory of mind and that in both cases where the self begins and end is an arbitrary point.

Or I could have made the argument that the theory of mind is just a recognition of self but then we'd fall down a rabbit hole of semantics.