Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49600 in Books
• Published on: 1992-08-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 269 pages

Synopsis
With the help of illustrations and examples from biology, linguistics and social and cultural phenomena, this book shows that the process of learning is not a means of knowing an absolute world of facts, but is rather an active process which itself creates the world of human experiences. To convey this, the authors examine cognition in all its facets, exploring topics such as the nature of scientific exploration, the organization of living things, evolution, language and the emergence of self-awareness. The authors maintain that the nature of cognition has important social and ethical consequences, for the only world that we humans can have is one that we bring forth together the action of our coexistence. Written for a general audience, this book invites readers to let go of their preconceptions and gain fresh insights into what it means to be human.

Customer Reviews

Absorbing & thought-provoking analysis of cognition
The wrtiers are scientists who have spent two decades researching the nature and processes of knowledge. Their findings contrast sharply with many scientific reports: here they recover the wholness of knowledge and the connections between the knower and the known. They show the deep potential for relationship that is built into the knowledge process and affirm what they can only describe as love as the root of nature's capacity for knowing. This is demonstrated not only with respect to human cognition, but also with reference to the animal kingdom.
This is therefore a challenging and profoundly researched essay, yet it is also highly readable for the interested lay person.

Prof. Angus Jenkinson

A new philosophy
Fantastic understanding of human nature. Some of the concepts that they bring are a breakthrough:
- structural couplling
- operational closure
- communication as coordiantion of behaviors

Interesting, my previous review disappeared!
The book is fascinating and screams out for a sequel. Where the book finishes, in my view, should be half way through the story, man's development, socially and philisophically, needs to be explored (avoiding religious discussion as that is a mine field). So in a way, the book is disappointing. One for the academics out there I feel.