The argument draws heavily on a Stoic concept known as self-ownership or oikeiôsis (Greek: οἰκείωσις) which was based on the view that all animals behave in a self-preserving way and are not just aware of themselves, but are aware of themselves in relation of other animals.
Argumentet trækker på det stoiske begreb om selv-ejerskab oikeiôsis (græsk: οἰκείωσις), der byggede på den teori at alle dyr søger imod at bevare sig selv, og ikke bare er bevidste om sig selv men også om andre dyr.