CONSCIOUS BRAIN PHMS C

Erscheinungsjahr 2011
ISBN: 978-0-19-531459-5
Verlag: ACADEMIC

Buch, Englisch, 416 Seiten, Print PDF, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 781 g

Synthesizing decades of research, The Conscious Brain advances a theory of the psychological and neurophysiological correlates of conscious experience. In the first part of the book, Prinz argues that consciousness always arises at a particular stage of perceptual processing, the intermediate level, and that consciousness depends on attention. Attention changes the flow of information and that gives rise to experience. The resulting account is called the AIR Theory, for attended intermediate-level representations. Objections to the theory are addressed. In the second part of the book, Prinz argues that all consciousness is perceptual: there is no cognitive phenomenology, no experience of motor commands, and no experience of a conscious self. This conclusions challenge popular theories in consciousness studies: the view that we can directly experience our thoughts, the view that consciousness essentially involves action, and the view that every experience includes awareness of the subject having that experience. In the third part of the book, Prinz explores the neural correlates of consciousness. He argues attention-hence consciousness-arises when populations of neurons fire in synchrony, and he responds to those who deny that consciousness could be a process in the brain. Along the way, Prinz also advances novel theories of qualia, the function of consciousness, the unity of consciousness, and the mind-body relation, defending a view called neurofunctionism. Each chapter in The Conscious Brain brings neuroscientific evidence to bear on enduring philosophical questions. Major philosophical and scientific theories of consciousness are surveyed, challenged, and extended.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Prinz

Prinz, Jesse

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Allgemeine Psychologie Biologische Psychologie, Neuropsychologie
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Klinische und Innere Medizin Neurologie, Klinische Neurowissenschaft
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Moderne Philosophische Disziplinen Philosophie des Geistes, Neurophilosophie
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften Interdisziplinär Neurowissenschaften, Kognitionswissenschaft

Inhaltsverzeichnis

- Preface

- Part I. A Theory of Consciousness

- 1: Do We Really Need Another Theory of Consciousness?

- 2: Which States Are Conscious? The Intermediate Level

- 3: When Are We Conscious? Attention and Availability

- Part II. The Limits of Consciousness

- 4: Does Consciousness Outstrip Perception? A Restrictive View

- 5: Why Are We Conscious? Action without Enaction

- 6: Whose Conscious States Are These? The Illusory Self

- Part III. The Metaphysics of Consciousness

- 7: How Is Consciousness Unified? Attentional Resonance

- 8: What Is Consciousness? Neural Correlates and Nuerofunctionalism

- 9: Could Consciousness Be Physical? The Brain Maintained

- Conclusion: AIR Compared

Über Autor(innen)

Jesse Prinz is Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of North Carolina.