Overview

A guide to the state of consciousness studies. It presents the history of the philosophical relation between mind and matter, and covers the scientific attempts to explain consciousness in terms of neural mechanisms, cerebral computation and quantum mechanics. It also introduces readers to zombies, ghosts in machines and Schrodinger's cat. ''An excellent book'' - Ted Honderich, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy of Mind and Logic at University College London (UCL) Introducing Consciousness provides a comprehensive guide to the current state of consciousness studies. It starts with the history of the philosophical relation between mind and matter, and proceeds to scientific attempts to explain consciousness in terms of neural mechanisms, cerebral computation and quantum mechanics. Along the way, readers will be introduced to zombies and Chinese Rooms, ghosts in machines and Erwin Schrodinger''s cat.