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CSflim · 09-08-2004, 11:30 AM

Consciousness Explained by Daniel C Dennett is a wonderfully profound and thorough book (and is written to be accessible to non-specialists, but is still moderately heavy going at times).

Freedom Evolves also by Dennett address the problem of Free Will specificially. Also recommened.

The Astonishing Hypothesis by Francis Crick (the co-discoverer of DNA) talks about consciousness from a neurobiological perspective.

The Conscious Mind by David J Chalmers argues against materialism in favor of what he calls "non-reductive functionalism". If you feel that you have been the victim of a bait and switch after reading Dennett and others, perhaps this would be more to your taste.

Other authors to check out: Douglas Hofstadter (esp. Godel, Escher, Bach), Steven Pinker (esp. How the Mind Works), Paul Churchland, Patricia Churchland, Gerald Edelman, Bernard Baars, Christof Koch.

EDIT:
Another book which is supposed to be very good is Consciousness: An Introduction by Susan Blackmore. I have not read it, though I certainly plan to. It is more of a textbook rather than a book putting forward a specific theory. It is apparently very well written (Susan Blackmore is a great writer imho), and very comprehensive.

09-08-2004, 11:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
CSflim Sky Piercer Location: Ireland	Consciousness Explained by Daniel C Dennett is a wonderfully profound and thorough book (and is written to be accessible to non-specialists, but is still moderately heavy going at times). Freedom Evolves also by Dennett address the problem of Free Will specificially. Also recommened. The Astonishing Hypothesis by Francis Crick (the co-discoverer of DNA) talks about consciousness from a neurobiological perspective. The Conscious Mind by David J Chalmers argues against materialism in favor of what he calls "non-reductive functionalism". If you feel that you have been the victim of a bait and switch after reading Dennett and others, perhaps this would be more to your taste. Other authors to check out: Douglas Hofstadter (esp. Godel, Escher, Bach), Steven Pinker (esp. How the Mind Works), Paul Churchland, Patricia Churchland, Gerald Edelman, Bernard Baars, Christof Koch. EDIT: Another book which is supposed to be very good is Consciousness: An Introduction by Susan Blackmore. I have not read it, though I certainly plan to. It is more of a textbook rather than a book putting forward a specific theory. It is apparently very well written (Susan Blackmore is a great writer imho), and very comprehensive. __________________ Last edited by CSflim; 09-08-2004 at 02:16 PM..