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Exploring Consciousness
Rita Carter ponders the nature, origins, and purpose of consciousness in this fascinating inquiry into the toughest problem facing modern science and philosophy. Building on the foundation of her bestselling book Mapping the Mind, she considers whether consciousness is merely an illusion, a by-product of our brain's workings, some as yet inexplicable feature or property of the material universe or—as the latest physics may suggest—the very fundament of reality. Little, she discovers, is as it first seems.
Carter draws from a solid body of knowledge—empirical findings and theoretical hypotheses--about consciousness, much of it derived from recent discoveries about the brain. Her lively, accessible narrative ranges widely over new ways of thinking about the subject and what direction new research is taking. Leading scholars from a range of perspectives provide topical essays that complement Carter's account. The book also discusses how traditional approaches—philosophical, scientific, and experiential—might be brought together to create a more complete understanding of consciousness.
Carter draws from a solid body of knowledge—empirical findings and theoretical hypotheses--about consciousness, much of it derived from recent discoveries about the brain. Her lively, accessible narrative ranges widely over new ways of thinking about the subject and what direction new research is taking. Leading scholars from a range of perspectives provide topical essays that complement Carter's account. The book also discusses how traditional approaches—philosophical, scientific, and experiential—might be brought together to create a more complete understanding of consciousness.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2002
12 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Rita Carter
40 books63 followersRita Carter is a science writer, lecturer and broadcaster who specialises in the human brain: what it does, how it does it, and why.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 23, 2018
This is one of those books I got a hold of because I was following the bibliography of another book. I don't remember the name of the book that led me to this book because it's been on my shelf for over a year now waiting for me. I finally read it and was not disappointed. I love books that teach me new vocabulary and concepts such as "qualia, substance dualism, property dualism, and mysterianism." A book like this encourages me to explore the bibliography and the further reading section to the fullest. I like books that lead to more books. This is one of them. It was written as simply as it could be for an extremely difficult and sometimes overwhelmingly complex subject. It encouraged me to learn more.
July 17, 2012
Having read at most 4 right-brain friendly books on physics, I considered myself a truly learned physicist, being able to wield "length contraction" and "Schrodinger's cat" in my parent's solely philosophy/psychology/religion based conversations. Not to worry, cracking open only a few AP Physics review books --the dreaded future awaiting me senior year-- my unfounded ego died a slow and painful death.
Continuing to browse these armchair physics books, I finally conceded the point to my good ol' flesh and blood (AKA one psychology-teaching father) that for all the interesting aspects of the lovely mesh of time-space, it seemed to be a big trampoline stretched tight only above our heads, never fully permeating the reality of everyday life.
However, the reality of our consciousness--and the study of neuroscience--took its grip through Rita Carter's enthusiastic, learned, and generally open-minded writing. Being especially fond in my philosophy class of the free will and mind-body problem, the reality that there was a field of science that catered to these questions in a more empirical way had me incredibly excited.
Perhaps what made me love this book so much is the very fact it starts out with a more philosophical chapter with the steam-whistle test. It then easily progresses into the more scientific aspects of our life, handing the cold plates of determinism and materialism in a much warmer fashion than any other writer I've read on the subject.
However, what I mostly like about her writing is the creative way in which she presents the findings of neuroscience. Instead of bland language that simply recites mechanics most likely learned from college textbooks, she states (for example) that the images of the world around us are not concrete objects in themselves, by simply a language of information about our surroundings, that colors are reflections of the feelings of ancestors, and that there is no concrete distinction where the brain ends and the separate "body" starts.
Perhaps it is my infatuation with the field of neuroscience itself, and this just happened to be the first book I read on it, but this book has truly submerged me into what feels like a second reality. I can't recommend it more highly.
Continuing to browse these armchair physics books, I finally conceded the point to my good ol' flesh and blood (AKA one psychology-teaching father) that for all the interesting aspects of the lovely mesh of time-space, it seemed to be a big trampoline stretched tight only above our heads, never fully permeating the reality of everyday life.
However, the reality of our consciousness--and the study of neuroscience--took its grip through Rita Carter's enthusiastic, learned, and generally open-minded writing. Being especially fond in my philosophy class of the free will and mind-body problem, the reality that there was a field of science that catered to these questions in a more empirical way had me incredibly excited.
Perhaps what made me love this book so much is the very fact it starts out with a more philosophical chapter with the steam-whistle test. It then easily progresses into the more scientific aspects of our life, handing the cold plates of determinism and materialism in a much warmer fashion than any other writer I've read on the subject.
However, what I mostly like about her writing is the creative way in which she presents the findings of neuroscience. Instead of bland language that simply recites mechanics most likely learned from college textbooks, she states (for example) that the images of the world around us are not concrete objects in themselves, by simply a language of information about our surroundings, that colors are reflections of the feelings of ancestors, and that there is no concrete distinction where the brain ends and the separate "body" starts.
Perhaps it is my infatuation with the field of neuroscience itself, and this just happened to be the first book I read on it, but this book has truly submerged me into what feels like a second reality. I can't recommend it more highly.
July 7, 2007
Carter does an excellent job of describing the complexity of the scientific study of consciousness, and she manages to do so in a way that is accessible and entertaining. The vast majority of the book is dedicated to trying to pin down what, exactly, consciousness really is. Some time is given to various pet theories, including some of the more fringe ideas, but the vast bulk of the book is really objective. Nice pictures, too!
September 3, 2014
An introduction to the tackling of the hard problem from a neurological (and entirely scientific) perspective. Truly the primarily rational take on the mind and its many wonders. The book leaves the reader with more questions than answers, but certainly opens up a horizon of thought to be had.
February 5, 2008
If you learn through visuals, rather than text, this is the book for you. It's an introduction to the neuroscientific understanding (and questions about) consciousness.
January 8, 2018
Mostly interesting, although the author lets it spin out in the last chapter by giving credence of charlatans like Charles Tart (whom I quote a the beginning of my book God Drug, but that book is a work of fiction and the quote is apt). Also, the author consistently misuses the word "comprise." Otherwise, this is a pretty good attempt to describe consciousness in terms of neuroscience and psychology for most of the book.
April 19, 2009
Fun intro to analytical philosphy and cognitive neuroscience read...plus lots of pictures!
January 11, 2014
Great book, and hints at the possible links between Consciousness and Quantum Processes.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews