Philosophy, Neuroscience and Consciousness
December 31, 2010 DOI: 10.1017/upo9781844654277
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractConsciousness remains one of the most challenging unsolved problems in science and philosophy. This book provides an accessible introduction to the topic, drawing on recent work in cognitive science, neurophysiology, and philosophy of mind. It examines the properties of consciousness that are most paradigmatic and problematic, then reviews scientific approaches—from brain studies to computational theories—and the philosophical issues they raise. The book is distinctive among philosophical introductions for its detailed engagement with neuroscience.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Citations | 4 |
| Key finding | The book argues that consciousness is both familiar and baffling, and that integrating neuroscience with philosophical analysis is essential for understanding it. |
Abstract
Explaining consciousness is one of the last great unanswered scientific and philosophical problems. Immediately known, familiar and obvious, consciousness is also baffling, opaque and strange. This introduction to the problems posed by consciousness discusses the most important work of cognitive science, neurophysiology and philosophy of mind of recent years and presents an up to date assessment of the issues and debates. The books engagement with the neuroscience material sets it apart from other philosophical introductions. Welshon presents an informal and largely non-technical account of the properties of consciousness that are thought to be the most paradigmatic and problematic before examining recent scientific work from neurophysiological studies of the brain to computational theories of the mind and the philosophical problems that these accounts raise.