Consciousness: An IntroductionIs there a theory that explains the essence of consciousness? Or is consciousness itself just an illusion? The 'last great mystery of science', consciousness is a topic that was banned from serious research for most of the last century, but is now an area of increasing popular interest, as well as a rapidly expanding area of study for students of psychology, philosophy and neuroscience. This ground-breaking textbook by best-selling author Susan Blackmore was the first of its kind to bring together all the major theories of consciousness studies, from those based on neuroscience to those based on quantum theory or Eastern philosophy. The book examines topics such as how subjective experiences arise from objective brain processes, the basic neuroscience of consciousness, altered states of consciousness, out of body and near death experiences and the effects of drugs, dreams and meditation. It also explores the nature of self, the possibility of artificial consciousness in robots, and the question of whether animals are conscious. The new edition has been fully revised to include the latest developments in neuroscience, brain scanning techniques, and artificial consciousness and robotics. The new website includes self-assessment exercises, advanced further reading, flashcards and MCQs. For all those intrigued by what it means to be, to exist, this book could radically transform your understanding of your own consciousness. |
Contents
Preface | |
Introduction | |
Section One The problem 1 Whats the problem? | |
What isitlike to be? | |
Consciousand unconscious action | |
Section Two The world 4 The theatre of the mind 5 Attention and timing 6 The grand illusion | |
Section Three The self 7 Egos bundles and multiple selves | |
Theoriesof self | |
Agency and freewill Section FourThe brain 10 The neural correlates of consciousness | |
The unity of consciousness | |
Damaged brains Section Five Evolution 13 The evolutionand consciousness 14 The functionof consciousness 15 Animal minds | |
Section Seven Borderlands | |
Theparanormal Section Eight Altered states of 22 Drugs andaltered states consciousness | |
Section Nine Firstperson approaches | |
Index | |
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