The Philosophical Exploration of Self in Dennetts Where Am I?

Abstract

Course name Instructor’s name Assignment due date Where Am I? I think Daniel Dennett’s essay, “Where Am I?” presents an interesting perspective on the concept of self in the philosophical context. By applying futuristic scientific advances in biology and medicine, the author demonstrates how the perception of “self” can change. Dennett shows that it can be difficult to think about one’s “here” when they interact with multiple aspects of their social and physical environment. The essay prompts the reader to think about the role of the human brain and its role in the body/mind philosophical question. The reading relates to the question of person as discussed in the course by taking steps to answer the question, ‘Where am I?’ It explores the capacity of a brain that is separated from the body to qualify as a person and how the separated body meets the same criteria. Dennett’s essay serves the practical purpose of exploring personhood and how the concept is used in practical applications. The essay introduces the legal question of a body that commits a crime while it is separated from the brain and the resulting punishment. A practical application of the essay is in legal decisions when the mental capacity of an offender is in question. Determining who deserves to be punished and the goal of such a punishment is an important legal issue that Dennett addresses in the essay. The soul as the essence of consciousness is addressed in the essay when Hamlet is unable to transmit to Yorick. The essay presents an important point of view on the physical characteristics of the soul that scholars could address. The question I would ask about Dennett’s essay is, “How different would the two versions of Dennett be if they found a second...