Reviews
(This quote must be used in FULL! No exceptions.)"The Conscious Mind is exceptionally ambitious and exceptionallysuccessfull--the best book in philosophy of mind for many years. It flies in theface of fashion, making a formidable case against materialistic orthodoxy.Legions of materialists are no doubt busy writing their rejoinders; but therewill be few points left for them to make that Chalmers hasn't made already. Weof the materialist opposition cannot go on about how he has overlooked this andmisunderstood that--because he hasn't. All we can do is to disagree about whichway the balance of considerations tilts."--David Lewis, PrincetonUniversity, "This splendid book is essential reading for anyone interested in theplace of consciousness in the natural world. Chalmers argues persuasively andeloquently that standard reductive approaches in cognitive science and inphilosophy of mind inevitably address only the easier problems associated withconsciousness while ignoring the hard and central problem of explaining thephenomenal ("what it's like") qualities of experience--and that there is no hopeof explaining these features reductively.... The book is lucidly and engaginglywritten and is accessible to a wide audience of readers."--Terence E. Horgan,The University of Memphis, "Chalmers has done the field of consciousness studies a great service by taking its subject matter so seriously, Doing so has resulted in a work that reads like the swan song of reductionism, yet simultaneously offers a glimpse of its replacement."--J. Scott Jordan, ContemporaryPsychology, "Chalmers shakes up the reductionist world of neurological research by asserting that scientists need to approach the conscious experience as a basic, nonphysical component of the world, similar to time, space, and matter."--Science News, "Certainly one of the best discussions of consciousness in existence, both as an advanced text and as an introduction to the issues....Chalmers has done about as good a job as could be done on this most intractable of problems." --Colin McGinn, The Times Higher Education Supplement, "Certainly one of the best discussions of consciousness in existence, bothas an advanced text and as an introduction to the issues....Chalmers has doneabout as good a job as could be done on this most intractable of problems."--Colin McGinn, The Times Higher Education Supplement, "This book should be widely read by those trying to fathom the physicalbasis of consciousness."--Christof Koch, Nature, "Taking as his starting point some very intuitive notions aboutconsciousness, David Chalmers arrives at strange and startling conclusions aboutwhat this central knot of human existence really is. This is a grand explorationof the topic, brilliantly argued by someone who knows the territory inside out.Though I personally can't go everywhere Chalmers wants to take me, he'scertainly one of the best possible guides."--Douglas Hofstadter, IndianaUniversity, "David Chalmers is widely credited for posing the so-called hard problem of consciousness:...What is the nature of subjective experience? Why do we have vividly felt experiences of the world? Why is there someone home inside our heads?"--The New York Times, "Taking as his starting point some very intuitive notions about consciousness, David Chalmers arrives at strange and startling conclusions about what this central knot of human existence really is. This is a grand exploration of the topic, brilliantly argued by someone who knows the territoryinside out. Though I personally can't go everywhere Chalmers wants to take me, he's certainly one of the best possible guides."--Douglas Hofstadter, Indiana University, "Chalmers shakes up the reductionist world of neurological research byasserting that scientists need to approach the conscious experience as a basic,nonphysical component of the world, similar to time, space, andmatter."--Science News, "Certainly one of the best discussions of consciousness in existence."--The Times Higher Education Supplement"A startling first book....Offers an outstandingly competent survey of the field."--The Economist"Chalmers shakes up the reductionist world of neurological research by asserting that scientists need to approach the conscious experience as a basic, nonphysical component of the world, similar to time, space, and matter."--Science News"David Chalmers is widely credited for posing the so-called hard problem of consciousness:...What is the nature of subjective experience? Why do we have vividly felt experiences of the world? Why is there someone home inside our heads?"--The New York Times, "Chalmers has done the field of consciousness studies a great service bytaking its subject matter so seriously, Doing so has resulted in a work thatreads like the swan song of reductionism, yet simultaneously offers a glimpse ofits replacement."--J. Scott Jordan, Contemporary Psychology, "Chalmers has written an exciting and fascinating book. I hope that because of it, consciousness in all its paradoxical glory will once more hold center stage in a robust philosophy of mind."--Eric Dietrich, Minds and Machines, "A startling first book....Offers an outstandingly competent survey of thefield and because its author, a mathematician versed in computer science,rejects materialism of all kinds in favor of a surprisingly old-fashioneddualism."--The Economist, "His rich argumentation, considered self-objections, and useful thought-experiments contribute to a fruitful analysis of much of contemporary philosophy of mind/cognitive science. The writing is accessible to the informed general reader while providing sufficient formalization forspecialists.... Useful, detailed notes and bibliography contribute to a highly recommended text."--Choice, "This book should be widely read by those trying to fathom the physical basis of consciousness."--Christof Koch, Nature, "David Chalmers is widely credited for posing the so-called hard problemof consciousness:...What is the nature of subjective experience? Why do we havevividly felt experiences of the world? Why is there someone home inside ourheads?"--The New York Times, "Certainly one of the best discussions of consciousness in existence."--The Times Higher Education Supplement "A startling first book....Offers an outstandingly competent survey of the field."--The Economist "Chalmers shakes up the reductionist world of neurological research by asserting that scientists need to approach the conscious experience as a basic, nonphysical component of the world, similar to time, space, and matter."--Science News "David Chalmers is widely credited for posing the so-called hard problem of consciousness:...What is the nature of subjective experience? Why do we have vividly felt experiences of the world? Why is there someone home inside our heads?"--The New York Times, (This quote must be used in FULL! No exceptions. THIS QUOTE MUST BE USED FIRST IN ALL PROMOTIONS!!!)"The Conscious Mind is exceptionally ambitious and exceptionally successful--the best book in philosophy of mind for many years. It flies in the face of fashion, making a formidable case against materialistic orthodoxy. Legions of materialists are no doubt busy writing their rejoinders; but therewill be few points left for them to make that Chalmers hasn't made already. We of the materialist opposition cannot go on about how he has overlooked this and misunderstood that--because he hasn't. All we can do is to disagree about which way the balance of considerations tilts."--David Lewis,Princeton University, "The Conscious Mind is an outstanding contribution to our understanding of consciousness. Chalmers pursues an idea that most other writers on consciousness have ignored, either because they haven't thought clearly enough to notice it or because they were terrified of acknowledging it. WritingThe Conscious Mind was an act of courage, and Chalmers was no doubt emboldened by a well-founded confidence that he could state his argument with impeccable clarity and rigor."--Steven Pinker, MIT, author of The Language Instinct, "His rich argumentation, considered self-objections, and usefulthought-experiments contribute to a fruitful analysis of much of contemporaryphilosophy of mind/cognitive science. The writing is accessible to the informedgeneral reader while providing sufficient formalization for specialists....Useful, detailed notes and bibliography contribute to a highly recommendedtext."--Choice
Synopsis
What is consciousness? How do physical processes in the brain give rise to the self-aware mind and to feelings as profoundly varied as love or hate, aesthetic pleasure or spiritual yearning?Philosopher David J. Chalmers unveils a major new theory of consciousness, one that rejects the prevailing reductionist trend of science, while offering provocative insights into the relationship between mind and brain., What is consciousness? How do physical processes in the brain give rise to the self-aware mind and to feelings as profoundly varied as love or hate, aesthetic pleasure or spiritual yearning?David J. Chalmers unveils a major new theory of consciousness, one that rejects the prevailing reductionist trend of science, while offering provocative insights into the relationship between mind and brain. Writing in a thought-provoking style, Chalmers proposes that conscious experience must be understood as an irreducible entity similar to such physical properties as time, mass, and space that exists at a fundamental level and cannot be understood as the sum of its parts. Engaging and penetrating, this book adds a fresh new perspective to the subject that is sure to spark debate about our understanding of the mind for years to come., What is consciousness? How do physical processes in the brain give rise to the self-aware mind and to feelings as profoundly varied as love or hate, aesthetic pleasure or spiritual yearning? These questions today are among the most hotly debated issues among scientists and philosophers, and we have seen in recent years superb volumes by such eminent figures as Francis Crick, Daniel C. Dennett, Gerald Edelman, and Roger Penrose, all firing volleys in what has come to be called the consciousness wars. Now, in The Conscious Mind, philosopher David J. Chalmers offers a cogent analysis of this heated debate as he unveils a major new theory of consciousness, one that rejects the prevailing reductionist trend of science, while offering provocative insights into the relationship between mind and brain. Writing in a rigorous, thought-provoking style, the author takes us on a far-reaching tour through the philosophical ramifications of consciousness. Chalmers convincingly reveals how contemporary cognitive science and neurobiology have failed to explain how and why mental events emerge from physiological occurrences in the brain. He proposes instead that conscious experience must be understood in an entirely new light--as an irreducible entity (similar to such physical properties as time, mass, and space) that exists at a fundamental level and cannot be understood as the sum of its parts. And after suggesting some intriguing possibilities about the structure and laws of conscious experience, he details how his unique reinterpretation of the mind could be the focus of a new science. Throughout the book, Chalmers provides fascinating thought experiments that trenchantly illustrate his ideas. For example, in exploring the notion that consciousness could be experienced by machines as well as humans, Chalmers asks us to imagine a thinking brain in which neurons are slowly replaced by silicon chips that precisely duplicate their functions--as the neurons are replaced, will consciousness gradually fade away? The book also features thoughtful discussions of how the author's theories might be practically applied to subjects as diverse as artificial intelligence and the interpretation of quantum mechanics. All of us have pondered the nature and meaning of consciousness. Engaging and penetrating, The Conscious Mind adds a fresh new perspective to the subject that is sure to spark debate about our understanding of the mind for years to come., What is consciousness? How do physical processes in the brain give rise to the self-aware mind and to feelings as profoundly varied as love or hate, aesthetic pleasure or spiritual yearning? These questions today are among the most hotly debated issues among scientists and philosophers, and we have seen in recent years superb volumes by such eminent figures as Francis Crick, Daniel C. Dennett, Gerald Edelman, and Roger Penrose, all firing volleys in what has come to be called the consciousness wars. Now, in The Conscious Mind , philosopher David J. Chalmers offers a cogent analysis of this heated debate as he unveils a major new theory of consciousness, one that rejects the prevailing reductionist trend of science, while offering provocative insights into the relationship between mind and brain. Writing in a rigorous, thought-provoking style, the author takes us on a far-reaching tour through the philosophical ramifications of consciousness. Chalmers convincingly reveals how contemporary cognitive science and neurobiology have failed to explain how and why mental events emerge from physiological occurrences in the brain. He proposes instead that conscious experience must be understood in an entirely new light--as an irreducible entity (similar to such physical properties as time, mass, and space) that exists at a fundamental level and cannot be understood as the sum of its parts. And after suggesting some intriguing possibilities about the structure and laws of conscious experience, he details how his unique reinterpretation of the mind could be the focus of a new science. Throughout the book, Chalmers provides fascinating thought experiments that trenchantly illustrate his ideas. For example, in exploring the notion that consciousness could be experienced by machines as well as humans, Chalmers asks us to imagine a thinking brain in which neurons are slowly replaced by silicon chips that precisely duplicate their functions--as the neurons are replaced, will consciousness gradually fade away? The book also features thoughtful discussions of how the author's theories might be practically applied to subjects as diverse as artificial intelligence and the interpretation of quantum mechanics. All of us have pondered the nature and meaning of consciousness. Engaging and penetrating, The Conscious Mind adds a fresh new perspective to the subject that is sure to spark debate about our understanding of the mind for years to come.
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