258 Self and the Phenomenon of Life
b2726 Self and the Phenomenon of Life: A Biologist Examines Life from Molecules to Humanity “9x6”this scheme. Selves can be stratified hierarchically, in a manner that a
member at one level enwraps those of the next lower level. We see this
phenomenon in cells that form tissues and organs and finally the entire
complex organism. In human society, individuals group into families,
clans, tribes, and nations, each level preserving the characteristics of self.
I call this stratified structure the expanded self or mega-self.^1
When selves bond to form a mega-self, the following features are
present: (1) a conflict of interest arises between the group and the indi-
vidual members; (2) conflict resolution is needed to achieve harmony
between the two, calling for compromise and constant adjustments (and
readjustments) on the part of the individuals, in exchange for benefits
derived from the group; (3) a successful mega-self is one in which the
majority of individuals are better off with it than without it, even though
some of the benefits they give up may appear to be self-defeating. For
example, when groups of cells differentiate into a multi-cellular organ-
ism, the majority of them give up their prospects for immortality, but
this is compensated by the perpetuation of the organism and its genome,
resulting in more similar cells being formed as time goes on. In evolu-
tionary sense, the individual members prevail in a mega-self.
12.2 Cooperation: Key to the Expanded Self
There is no denial that competition for limited resources is the busi-
ness of life. These include food, water, foraging territory, farmland, and
also space needed for shelter, breeding, and caring of the young. Liv-
ing things adopt two opposite evolutionary strategies for competition.
One strategy is to increase in number as fast as possible, as in bacteria.
A typical bacterium can double every twenty minutes and, because of
their rapid mutation rate and horizontal gene transfer, can come up with
numerous genetic variations within a short time, guaranteed to survive
in almost every possible and unexpected ecological niche. The second
strategy is to increase the ability to alter the environment for one’s own
need, as seen in animals with intelligence and sophisticated body parts.