About the Book
Understanding Consciousness, 2nd Edition provides a unique survey and evaluation of consciousness studies, along with an original analysis of consciousness that combines scientific findings, philosophy and common sense. Building on the widely praised first edition of the book, this new edition adds fresh research, and deepens the original analysis in a way that reflects some of the fundamental changes in the understanding of consciousness that have taken place over the last 10 years. The book is divided into three parts; Part one surveys current theories of consciousness, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Part two reconstructs an understanding of consciousness from first principles, starting with its phenomenology, and leading to a closer examination of how conscious experience relates to the world described by physics and information processing in the brain. Finally, Part three deals with some of the fundamental issues such as what consciousness is and does, and how it fits into to the evolving universe.As the structure of the book moves from a basic overview of the field to a successively deeper analysis, it can be used both for those new to the subject and for more established researchers.
Understanding Consciousness tells a story with a beginning, middle and end in a way that integrates the philosophy of consciousness with the science. Overall, the book provides a unique perspective on how to address the problems of consciousness and as such, will be of great interest to psychologists, philosophers, neuroscientists and other professionals concerned with mind/body relationships, and all who are interested in this subject.
Table of Contents:
Part 1. Mind-Body Theories and Their Problems. What is Consciousness? Conscious Souls, Brains and Quantum Mechanics. Are Mind and Matter the Same Thing? Are Mind and Consciousness Just Activities? Could Robots be Conscious? Part 2. A New Analysis: How to Marry Science with Experience. Conscious Phenomenology and Common Sense. The Nature and Location of Experiences. Experienced Worlds, The World Described by Physics, and The Thing Itself. Subjective, Intersubjective and Objective Science. How Consciousness Relates to Information Processing in the Brain. The Neural Causes and Correlates of Consciousness. Part 3. A New Synthesis: Reflexive Monism. What Consciousness Is. What Consciousness Does. Self-Consciousness in a Reflexive Universe.
About the Author :
Max Velmans is currently Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London and Visiting Professor of Consciousness Studies at the University of Plymouth. He has been researching, writing and teaching consciousness studies for over 30 years and has over 90 publications in this area.
Review :
"The chapters are arranged in logical and concise portions, resulting in an engaging and effortless read. Velmans gently guides the reader through a comprehensive, but entirely accessible, review of the current state of knowledge concerning consciousness with originality and clarity. This book is inspirational in its ability to stimulate a new level of thinking about consciousness." -- Helen Henshaw in The Psychologist "Velmans work over the past two decades has established his rightful place among the most important philosophers of mind in the area of consciousness studies. This updated edition of his book is especially thought-provoking. It both summarizes and critiques the current literature, and offers innovative directions for future thinking. For those with interests in this area, it will warrant several readings." - Keith Harris in Metapsychology Online "This book possesses the huge advantage that the limitations in most of the research on consciousness (and many of the previously proposed theories) can be seen with stark clarity from Velmans' theoretical perspective. ... This book is a major contribution to what is often regarded (and probably correctly!) as one of the most difficult areas in the whole of psychology. I am envious of the way in which Max Velmans has grappled with such success with a topic that has defeated so many psychologists over the years." -- Michael W. Eysenck, Royal Holloway University of London "If you're interested in getting a good overview of contemporary approaches to understanding consciousness, both philosophical and experimental, I can recommend Understanding Consciousness, second edition, by British psychologist Max Velmans. Published by Routledge in 2009, you couldn't ask for anything more comprehensive." - Charles T. Tart, Professor, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto CA, and Professor Emeritus, Psychology, University of California, Davis "I read this book from beginning-to-end, word-for-word, and even flipped back in turn to each of his 236 fascinating endnotes. ... Velmans' book goes a long way towards our 'understanding consciousness'." -- Bill Faw in Journal of Consciousness Studies "What an intellectually rich and readable journey through the tangled fabric of consciousness studies! The consciousness debate is enriched immeasurably by this fine and disciplined journey, with just a pinch of 'mind-dust' to flavor the universe. Students of mind will find this to be among the finest and most disciplined journeys into the still dark corners of consciousness studies. ... This new edition of Understanding Consciousness is simply the best overview of consciousness studies that has ever been written." - Jaak Panksepp, Bailey Endowed Chair of Animal Well-Being Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University Reviews of the First Edition: "This is among the best books written about consciousness over the last decade. ... It sets a high standard in the natural philosophy of mind." - Professor Adam Zeman, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh in The Lancet "Understanding Consciousness presents a lucid, indeed masterly, account of the philosophical issues involved." - Professor Jeffrey Gray, Institute of Psychiatry, London in Times Higher Educational Supplement "Those who are engaged in the cognitive sciences should read this book so as to stimulate their own thinking. ... The implications for the field are quite profound." - Professor Igor Aleksander, Imperial College, London in Trends in Cognitive Sciences "This is a fine book. In what has become a crowded field, it stands out as direct, deep, and daring. It should place Max Velmans amongst the stars in the field." - Professor Greg Nixon, Prescott College, Arizona in Journal of Consciousness Studies "This book is excellent. There are lots of books on consciousness, but few which mix the philosophical, psychological and neuroscientific, and even fewer which are written without an axe to grind. ... A lovely book. ! I'll be recommending it to everyone I see." - Professor John Kihlstrom, University of California at Berkley "A splendid assessment of and contribution to the debate about consciousness as it is currently being waged between psychologists, philosophers, some neuroscientists and AI people." - Professor Steven Rose, The Open University, UK "This is a splendid book. ... In my view it should have a profound and lasting effect upon the debate as to the nature and function of consciousness, and should stimulate much new thinking and investigation." - Professor David Fontana, University of Cardiff and University of Algarve "Following the best traditions, the book has an explanatory beginning, an unmissable middle and a happy end. ... It is refreshing to find amongst the consciousness literature a book that is so accessible and focused. Velmans maintains a clarity rarely found in the deep abysses of philosophy, psychology and neurophysiology without departing from the point. Consequently, I would recommend this book equally both to the connoisseur of consciousness studies and to the mere aficionado." - Dora Brown, University of Surrey, in The Psychologist "Velmans launches a sustained and well-reasoned attack on the prevailing 'orthodoxies' of functionalism and other reductionist so-called explanations of consciousness. ...[In] arguing for his own position - his reflexive model - he deeply challenges the reader's assumptions. ... The reflexive model touches on deeply provocative ideas which could yet catalyse the next step forward in understanding consciousness." - Les Lancaster, Liverpool John Moore's University, in Consciousness & Experiential Psychology "Max Velmans has written a fundamentally important book. At a time when many are expressing an increasing interest in our experience of 'consciousness', he presents a coherent and comprehensive survey of the state of knowledge in this field. ... But he does more than this. ... there is a level of original thinking in his writing that makes a useful contribution to the debate about one of the most complex issues of our time." - Joan Walton in Caduceus "Being inspired with lucidity and a true interdisciplinary spirit, Understanding Consciousness is lasting in value." - Alexander Batthyany, University of Vienna, in Theory & Psychology
