Mind-body

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Mind-body problem
The Dennett’s experiment illustrates the mind-body dualism. The brain is considered a part of the body which functions to control it. During the experiment, Dennett notices that even when he could see his brain on a vat, he still has a consciousness and a point of view. Contrary to his prior belief that his thoughts originated from the brain, he notices that “where the thought occurred to me was here, outside the vat, where I, Dennett was standing staring at my brain” (Dennett 2). This implies that he certainly does not rely on the brain to have a point of view. As the story nears conclusion, the existence of Dennett is irrefutable.
In the Dennett’s experiment, Dennett depicts the conscious human soul. Consciousness is the attribute of the soul which from which emanates a person’s point of view. The soul is detachable from the body as illustrated by Dennett’s statement as he stares his brain on a vat, “…here I am sitting on a folding chair, staring through a piece of plate glass at my brain” (Dennett 2). Dennett postulates the position of a person’s point of view to be the soul’s location, “…Dennett is wherever he thinks he is” (Dennett 3). The immaterial nature of the soul is illustrated by the fact that Dennett was able to change his perspective immediately the radio equipment malfunctions. A representation of the fact that Dennett is the soul, and is separable from the body, comes out clearly when Dennett is unable to sustain the illusion that he was still a part of the body.

He can figure out the body lying down miles away, meaning that he (the soul) is now detached from the material body (Dennett 5). Hence, the Dennett’s experiment provides a rich insight into the separable nature of the body and the mind.
Work cited
Dennett, Daniel. “Where Am I?”. Lehigh.Edu. Retrieved from
https://www.lehigh.edu/~mhb0/Dennett-WhereAmI.pdf. Accessed 8 Aug 2018.