Life covers a wide range of biological complexity.
For example, a virus in its simplest form consists of a single nucleic acid chain surrounded by a few protein molecules. About the most it can do is reproduce itself with the help of its cell host. In contrast, the complexity of a human being is dazzling, involving trillions of interacting cells whose functions go far beyond simple replication. We do not know where to draw such a line and assume by default that Self exists to different degrees in different animals according to their complexity.