Paperback

Published: 25/06/2010

Extent: 496 pages

Illustrations: 100 b/w line drawings, 50 half tones

 

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Summary:
Is there a theory that explains the essence of consciousness? Or is consciousness itself just an illusion? The ‘last great mystery of science’, consciousness is a topic that was banned from serious research for most of the last century, but is now an area of increasing popular interest, as well as a rapidly expanding area of study for students of psychology, philosophy and neuroscience. This ground-breaking textbook by best-selling author Susan Blackmore was the first of its kind to bring together all the major theories of consciousness studies, from those based on neuroscience to those based on quantum theory or Eastern philosophy.

The book examines topics such as how subjective experiences arise from objective brain processes, the basic neuroscience of consciousness, altered states of consciousness, out of body and near death experiences and the effects of drugs, dreams and meditation. It also explores the nature of self, the possibility of artificial consciousness in robots, and the question of whether animals are conscious.

The new edition has been fully revised to include the latest developments in neuroscience, brain scanning techniques, and artificial consciousness and robotics. The new website includes self-assessment exercises, advanced further reading, flashcards and MCQs.

For all those intrigued by what it means to be, to exist, this book could radically transform your understanding of your own consciousness.

• Written by Susan Blackmore, one of the world's foremost experts on consciousness
• New, expanded section on neuroscience brings the book up-to-date with the very latest research
• Accompanying website includes MCQs and self-test exercises for students to monitor their progress
• Flashcards aid revision and understanding of key terms and concepts
• Website kept constantly up-to-date with the latest research in the field.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Section One: The problem
1. What’s the problem ?
2. What is it like to be…?
3. Conscious or unconscious ?
Section Two: The world
4. The theatre of the mind
5. Attention and timing
6. The grand illusion
Section Three: The self
7. Egos, bundles and multiple selves
8. Theories of self
9. Agency and free will
Section Four: The brain
10. The neural correlates of consciousness
11. The unity of consciousness
12. Damaged brains
Section Five: Evolution
13. The evolution of consciousness
14. The function of consciousness
15. Animal minds
Section Six: Artificial consciousness
16. Minds and machines
17. Could a machine be conscious?
18. How to build a conscious machine
Section Seven: Borderlands
19. Unconscious processing
20. Reality and imagination
21. The paranormal
Section Eight: Altered states of consciousness
22. Drugs and altered states
23. Sleep dreams and hypnosis
24. Exceptional human experience
Section Nine: First-person approaches
25. The view from within
26. Meditation and mindfulness
27. Waking up

About the Author(s):
Susan Blackmore is visiting Professor of Psychology, University of Plymouth

Readership:
Undergraduate students of psychology or philosophy taking modules in the philosophy or psychology of consciousness.

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