View article

If humans evolved from great apes, why are human selves so much more elaborate than those of apes? To answer this question is to address the question of what the self essentially is. The self is not a part of the brain, nor is it an illusion, nor is there a “true self” hidden in some magical realm. Rather, the self is an essential part of the interface between the animal body and the social system. Human social systems—including culture and civilization—are vastly more complex than the social systems of other great apes. They present more opportunities and more challenges. The human self has to have capabilities and properties that enable it to deal with these. As a simple example, consider your name. Your name is not a part of your brain, though your brain has to be able to know and use the name. The name is given to you by others. It locates you in the social system: Imagine trying to live in your town without a name! Your name refers to your body but evokes much more, such as group memberships, bank accounts, transcripts, and resumes. It links you to a family, and some people even change their names when they change families (by marrying). Your name tells people how to treat you.(In modern China, which has an acute shortage of names, there are reports of surgery being performed on the wrong person because several hospital patients have identical names. Police work is likewise easily confused by duplicate names.)

Most animals get what they need (food, shelter, and the like) from the physical environment. Humans get it from each other, that is, from their social system. The functions of the self thus include helping the animal self …