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Where Am I Daniel Dennett Analysis

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In Daniel Dennett’s Essay “Where am I”, Dennett is struggling with the philosophical question of who his identity is truly given to whether it is Yorick, Hamlet (when he was still “alive”), Hubert, or Fortinbras. Based upon the (3) alternative conclusions to his question, his (Dennett’s) identity is essentially based upon his point-of-view, the content of the situation he is in and the thoughts and beliefs going through his mind at that specific moment.

After the doctors and support team completed the operation and removed Dennett’s brain, he requests he is taken to see it. While sitting in his chair in front of the vat the thought of “here I am…staring through plate glass at my own brain” (Dennett, 312) crosses his mind. This leads Dennett …show more content…

He then questions this and the thought “here I am, suspending in a bubbling fluid, being stared at by my own eyes” (Dennett, 312) arises, which leads to alternative (2) that identity is given to the brain, Yorick. Unfortunately, alternative (2) is also incorrect seeing as if …show more content…

The problem with one’s point of view is that it can easily be manipulated and shifted, for example, if an individual is watching a scary movie, they will react and feel as though they are going through the same situation as the characters (Dennett, 317). This seems to be an unclear thought to Dennett, although this is hardly a weakness, but something that is beneficial to one’s identity. Our point of view can be shifted, just as Dennett was trying to do with Hubert and Yorick, switching from inside the vat to outside. Although this didn’t work very well for him, once Hubert lost all his transceivers, he “changed location from Tulsa to Houston at the speed of light” (Dennett, 317). While his body was stuck under the ground, Dennett was able to think himself back into the vat, essentially saving himself from being buried “alive”. Considering the point of view of any individual is quite flexible, it can be easy to get physically lost, but in reassurance, they really are not lost at all, since they would be right there in their

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