The article uses this definition: an inner realm of awareness, selfhood, and possibility The dictionary has some similar phrasing: the immaterial essence, an

The article uses this definition: an inner realm of awareness, selfhood, and possibility The dictionary has some similar phrasing: the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe a person's total self So depending on your definition, you could (or could not) apply it outside of humans. Or it's something you believe in or don't believe in. If it's self awareness, or just a definition we wrap around what causes a living being to do things, then yes, it's something you can say an elephant has. Obviously if you say it's "a person's total self", then you only apply it to people. [0] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soul https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soul