My students have been discussing Daniel Dennett’s “Where Am I” in class. We have just switched from ethics into metaphysics/philosophy of mind. The funny thing is, I don’t think they were expecting the dramatic switch and some assumed, by the reading, that we were switching into Science Fiction. The questions I’ve been getting via email is what does Dennett’s work have to do with philosophy?
Well they are slowly but surely finding out. Although they may not ask the question “where am I?” much, they do ask “who am I?” a lot. I know I do. It’s that question we have been examining and the discussions have been interesting.
Speaking of interesting and of Dennett, I was doing some research on meditation and the brain (dont ask why but it does have something to do with Oprah) and came across a short clip on Dennett and spirituality. For a physicalist philosopher, I was surprised and impressed by Dennett’s response. I thought it would be nice of “me,” (whoever I am), to share it with “you” (wherever you are). Did my Dennett puns just work? Nevermind. Oh, another pun!!