Product Description

An examination of the arguments of prominent thinkers in the field of human consciousness, incorporating issues surrounding artificial intelligence and the afterlife. The thinkers include: Francis Crick; Gerald Edelman; Roger Penrose; Daniel Dennett; and Israel Rosenfield.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #177241 in Books
• Published on: 1998-11-12
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Customer Reviews

A remarkable insight into "The Mystery"
John Searle's "The Mystery of Consciousness" is a wholly remarkable achievement. Materialists and Dualists alike will find it an intriguing work, as it not only gives Searle's own opinion, but also examines the work of many of the other leading philosophers and scientists in the field. The result, is a thorough dosage of a wide range of opinions.

For those unfamiliar with the philosophy of consciousness and the science of the brain, this book is simply an excellent starting point. Through this book, one feels free to make their own decisions about modern theories and has a wide range of options on how to proceed with their discovery of our consciousness. It is written with all levels of readership in mind, without being patronistic, which some books intended for "the lay population" can be.

For those already attune with the field, purchase this book from Amazon, and you'll be pleasantly surprised. It may even change some of your "concrete" opinions!

A punch-up in print.
This is a solid round-up of most of the conteporary thinking about consciousness. Searle summarises each aspect and picks over it pointing out difficulties and 'absurdities' where hew disagrees.

Anyone reading this book will agree with some of the points on each side, disagree with others, and probably form a conclusion that there is a frenzied world of public argument and abuse between different philosophers out there. A world of argument that is only thinly masked by the pretty book covers and attempts to focus on subject matter.

Anyone who has read widely enough on the subject of consciousness will undoubtedly be annoyed by the 'isms and other jargon of philosophy of consciousness. This book is less "-ism'istic" than some, but at times it does descend into picking over aspects of arguments that (arguably) are not the main point.

Enough! - I'd better go and write my own book some more now.

an excellent review of thinking on consciousness
The book is well written and not too hard for the non-specialist. It provides an excellent introduction to approaches to the study of consciousness, with some witty exchanges to boot. Top notch, much more accessible than Dennett and of manageable length.