IndexIntroductionBrain in a vatBody/brain dislocationNew bodyOld brainComputer Constructed brainDivergence of selvesIntroductionWhat I want to do here is simply detail the points Dennett makes and then briefly describe each one. This reading ventures into many areas regarding the idea of ​​self. A discussion on this topic usually produces good clarity in class, but is a little more complicated in the written lesson form. I'll try to keep it simple. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Brain in a vat - Where am I - Brain versus body transplant - Interdependence of the brain/body relationship - Body as a perceptual device (window to world) - Distinction between brain and mind - Point of view At the beginning, Dennett is just preparing the ground. He receives an offer to carry out this incredible scientific feat and as a scholar he can't say no. During the operation, and finding himself in the unique position of staring into his own brain, he begins to ask himself some fundamental questions. What is most important to a person's identity and why? Is it the body or the brain? We are so physically oriented in the world, so much so that we automatically associate physical identifiers as markers of self. But we are intelligent enough to know that our brain hosts thoughts and consciousness, and this appears to be crucial in determining, or even having the ability to determine, the location of the self. Some of us discover that the self perhaps lies in ethereal space. that connects the body and the brain…or do we mean the mind? What is the difference between the two? They are the same thing, can a mind be dissected like a brain, and if so, why say mind and not brain? What else are we referring to when we say mind, and where is it? Does it take up space in the world? Finally, it enters another option, that of experience, of how we perceive the world, from our point of view. Maybe the self is not a tangible thing, maybe it is a phenomenon, and that would make it less real? Brain/body dislocation - Signal delay - Immediate transfer of consciousness - Loss of body - Mainlining experience encounters problems along the way. First he notices the delay as he moves further away from the physical location of his brain. This would make sense and perhaps begin to suggest physicality to the idea of ​​self. But when the body shuts down, its consciousness is said to immediately return to the position of the brain, apparently defying physical parameters. So the idea is implied, in short, of a soul, something non-physical about who we are that doesn't require a body. And for a period of time, Dennett is left in a dream-like state of awareness, disembodied and having “core” experiences like music, without the typical auditory apparatus, connected directly to that part of the brain. It would seem at this point that the body may be superfluous to the reality of the self. New body, old brain - Similarity of physicality - Shipbuilder analogy - What must remain for the "I" to remain - Is this a new person - The role of memory in identity (and the implications) Gets a new body, one that resembles the old one, for practical purposes, no doubt to relieve shock. We may find this far-fetched, but remember that the story is not real, nor is it trying to argue for its realistic portrayal. It's science fiction; just asking what if? Of course, what is suggested is not impossible, just beyond our current capabilities. We transmit information signals through space, we transplant organs every day; what about this is completely impossible? But that's not itpoint. Philosophy is about questions, so let's ask ourselves. People have accidents, illnesses that change them drastically, beyond physical recognition, how different is this from the change in likeness Dennett is now having with this new body? And if they told him it's his body, it was recovered and severely damaged, and through major plastic surgery they managed to save it and restore it to some of its original likeness along the way. How did Dennett know any different? What comes to mind is what is called the “shipbuilder analogy”. I'll bring it into modern times and talk about a car rather than a ship. If you own a car for many years, you replace a lot of parts, and it's conceivable that at some point, if you own the car long enough, you may have changed every part. Is it the same car? And if not, at what point did it stop being the same car you bought 20 years ago? Now let's apply this logic to our body, at what point, given all the physical changes we encounter, as far as we know our cells are all different now than when we were born, what exactly is it that maintains our identity? Is it consciousness, memories, mind, soul? What if something remains the constant among all the variables of our existence? Computer built with brain - There are two Dennetts - Ethical responsibility - How does this affect personality (identity) - Materialism vs dualism - What should be done (another self on the planet) Comes to find out they had a backup plan for Dennett in case the mission fails. They had made an exact replica of his brain. It was so accurate that when he flipped the switch between the brains, he could perceive absolutely no change in self-awareness. Had they succeeded in building a conscious self? So it seemed. If this were indeed true, then what does this imply about individuality… that it is a physical construct and that, like all such things, can be reduced to an equation; the self can be a quantifiable entity. At this point, Dennett isn't sure how to proceed, he doesn't need the spare brain, but because he can't discern between the two, he feels like turning it off is like killing a person. , himself! So think about some options, how if they were separated they would both feel a legitimate right to each other's life, career, family, and yet they can't both have those things. Ultimately, he decides to keep both brains connected to the same body, since he can't distinguish between the two anyway. And then he removes the labels so that when he switches between them he won't know who's actually in charge and won't give a preference to the other. He believes this resolves everything he has had to endure in a fair and humane way. Divergence of Self - How It Happened - What It Implies - What We Might Conclude - Overall Perspective Provided by Dennett The story ends with him addressing his audience, in a lecture hall somewhere, after telling his incredible story and bringing the crowd in the current state in which it finds itself. He brandishes the switch he spoke of and flips it to demonstrate to the crowd that there is no distinction between the two selves by taking turns being in charge. To his surprise, the self that has sprung into action suddenly takes over, lamenting his imprisonment and promising the newly imprisoned self that he will return to the scientists and have them separated immediately and make new arrangements that will be beneficial to him. both. Now, when this happened, some of you may have been lost as to what happened. What I will do here is give you an example of the "implications" I talk about regarding analyzing the philosophy or applying the notes on the 4 pillars: Keep.