In 'Consciousness', Susan Blackmore takes readers on a captivating journey through the mysteries of the mind. She challenges conventional views, proposing that consciousness is not what we think it is. Through engaging narratives and thought-provoking experiments, Blackmore explores concepts like the self, perception, and the nature of reality. Are our thoughts truly our own, or mere byproducts of neurological processes? This provocative examination will leave you questioning your understanding of consciousness and your place in the world.
By Susan Blackmore
Published: 2017
"Consciousness is not a thing but a process—an ever-evolving river of thoughts and experiences that shapes our reality."
Consciousness, the last great mystery for science, remains a hot topic. How can a physical brain create our experience of the world? What creates our identity? Do we really have free will? Could consciousness itself be an illusion? Exciting new developments in brain science are continuing the debates on these issues, and the field has now expanded to include biologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, and philosophers. This controversial book clarifies the potentially confusing arguments, and the major theories, whilst also outlining the amazing pace of discoveries in neuroscience. Covering areas such as the construction of self in the brain, mechanisms of attention, the neural correlates of consciousness, and the physiology of altered states of consciousness, Susan Blackmore highlights our latest findings. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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“Consciousness is not a thing but a process—an ever-evolving river of thoughts and experiences that shapes our reality.”
Consciousness
By Susan Blackmore
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Susan Blackmore is a distinguished British psychologist, best known for her work in the fields of consciousness and the paranormal. She has written several influential books, including 'The Meme Machine', which explores the concept of memes and their role in cultural evolution, and 'Consciousness: An Introduction', a comprehensive overview of the various theories of consciousness. Blackmore's writing style is characterized by a clear, engaging prose that makes complex scientific concepts accessible to a general audience. Throughout her career, she has contributed significantly to discussions on cognitive science, the nature of self, and the scientific study of anomalous experiences.
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