>But are your features really sentient self-symbols, or are they just mechanically derived by-products - like reflection in a computer language, taken up a level?
Why couldn't we apply the concept to our self?
Self awareness is one commonly believed description for consciousness. Going off of that, we become self aware in three primary ways: 1) We're told about us by our parents at a young age, before the age of one. 2) We observe our selves in the environment often influencing the environment, from looking in a mirror, to social interaction. 3) We get meta about a series of things (body+mind) and self awareness arises from that generalized intelligence.
Though, you could argue that #3 may not be enough alone to create self awareness and ultimately #2 is required.
Why couldn't we apply the concept to our self?
Self awareness is one commonly believed description for consciousness. Going off of that, we become self aware in three primary ways: 1) We're told about us by our parents at a young age, before the age of one. 2) We observe our selves in the environment often influencing the environment, from looking in a mirror, to social interaction. 3) We get meta about a series of things (body+mind) and self awareness arises from that generalized intelligence.
Though, you could argue that #3 may not be enough alone to create self awareness and ultimately #2 is required.