Dennett, D. C. (1991). Consciousness explained. New York, Little, Brown and Company. [buy book]
Synopsis:
The national bestseller chosen by The New York Times Book
Review as one of the ten best books of 1991 is now available in
paperback. The author of Brainstorms, Daniel C. Dennett replaces
our traditional vision of consciousness with a new model based on a
wealth of fact and theory from the latest scientific research.
From Kirkus Reviews, 09/14/91:
Maybe not explained. But explored, analyzed, examined from an
extraordinarily rich perspective. Here, as in other philosophical
work (Elbow Room, 1984, etc.), the Director of the Center for
Cognitive Studies at Tufts Univ. states that he aims to dethrone the
``Cartesian Theater'' of the mind--that central screen with its implied
``Central Meaner'' who attends to the ``contents of consciousness'':
the ghost in the machine with all its implied infinite regress and
mind/brain dichotomy. Instead, Dennett posits ``multiple drafts'' of
the real world, the product of parallel processing of perceptual and
cognitive subsystems compiled by independent ``demons'' vying
with each other, with now one or another gaining ascendancy--the
whole a form of ``pandemonium'' that results in consciousness. In
arriving at this model, Dennett reviews the extensive literature of
neuroscience, artificial intelligence, neurology, cognitive psychology,
speech and language studies, thought experiments, and the
philosophical tradition itself. This discourse is well worth the price of
admission to Dennett's own theater of the brain: He is a gifted
expositor with a marvelous sense of humor, and, typical of
philosophers, ever eager to persuade, answer the reader's
objectives, and strike down rival theories. Does he succeed? Not
completely. One suspects that metaphors based on artificial
intelligence, ``virtual'' machines, and computer technology are just
this culture's mind-set at this time. Dennett also pays scant attention
to the role of emotions (in comparison to Robert Ornstein, see
below), nor for that matter to the emerging concept that the
nervous, endocrine, and immune systems should be considered in
any schema of consciousness. Nevertheless, Dennett's analysis is so
often brilliant, so witty, and so informed by contemporary culture as
to make pleasurable the reading of what is truly a complex and
demanding text. -- Copyright©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All
rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or
unavailable edition of this title.
Synopsis:
Consciousness separates us from other animals and machines--or
does it? Can consciousness be scientifically reduced to chemical
and mechanical processes? If so, where do morality, love,
unhappiness, and joy fit in? Now the author of Brainstorms and
coauthor of The Mind's I proposes an original model of
consciousness based on new scientific fact and theory. 51 drawings.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of
this title.