Science and the Riddle of Consciousness: A Solution

by Jeffrey E. Foss

Overview

Consciousness has become a major topic of scientific interest, and dozens of books have been written in recent years to explain it, yet it still remains a mystery. Science and the Riddle of Consciousness explains why consciousness is a riddle for science, and demonstrates how this riddle can be solved.
The questions examined in the book speak directly to neuroscientists, computer scientists, psychologists, and philosophers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780792379362
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	08/31/2000
Edition description:	2000
Pages:	225
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

Table of Contents

1 The Place of Consciousness in Science.- 2 The Scientific Model and the Genesis of the Riddle.- 3 The Manifest Model and the Pythagorean Intuition.- 4 Explaining Qualia.- 5 Methodological Foundations of the Science of Consciousness.- 6 The Primacy of Method.- 7 Solving the Riddle of Intentionality.- References.- Index of Names.- Index of Subjects.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

‘[...] Foss has produced an excellent book from which consciousness researchers can profit.'

Philosophia, 31:1-2 (October 2003)

"Professor Foss has written not just one book but sketched two in outline. Ostensively his task is to show how one might study matters of consciousness in a scientifically responsible manner. … Foss has written a most exciting work. It is both rigorously argued and fun to read. Foss’s book should earn him a place with the likes of Daniel Dennett and Owen Flanagan – high praise indeed." (Paul A. Wagner, The Review of Metaphysics, Vol. LVI (223), 2003)

From the Publisher

Starting with a solution to how we know people see the same color we do when they use the same word, Foss (philosophy of science, U. of Victoria, Canada) works out a system by which scientists can study the phenomenon of human consciousness. One of his major themes is that research methods should have primacy over metaphysics. He covers the place of consciousness in science, the scientific model and the genesis of the riddle, the manifest model and the Pythagorean intuition, explaining qualia, the methodological foundations of the science of consciousness, the primacy of method, and solving the riddle of intentionality. The CiP data leaves off the subtitle. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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