"Traditionally the maturity of the self develops through three
stages — from ego to social self, and from social self to
metaphysical self. In this conception of the process nature — our
home, our immediate environment, where we belong as children,
and our identification with living human beings — is largely
ignored. I therefore tentatively introduce the concept of an
ecological self. We may be in, of and for nature from our very
beginning. Society and human relations are important, but our self
is richer in its constitutive relations. These relations are not only
relations we have with humans and the human community, but
with the larger community of all living beings." - Arne Naess
Seed, J. (1988). Thinking like a mountain: Towards a council of all beings. Philadelphia, PA: New Society Publishers.