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韦慰 蟽蠉渭蟺伪谓 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏蟼
韦委 蟽蠀渭尾伪委谓蔚喂 蟽蟿慰 渭蠀伪位蠈 渭伪蟼 蠈蟿伪谓 魏维谓慰蠀渭蔚 渭喂伪 蟽魏苇蠄畏; 螤蠋蟼 纬蔚谓谓喂苇蟿伪喂 慰 蠁伪谓蟿伪蟽渭伪纬慰蟻喂魏蠈蟼 魏蠈蟽渭慰蟼 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蔚喂未畏蟿萎蟼 蔚渭蟺蔚喂蟻委伪蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 蠁蠀蟽喂魏维 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 蟽蠀谓蟿蔚位慰蠉谓蟿伪喂 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 蠂慰蠉蠁蟿伪 味蔚位伪蟿喂谓蠋未畏 喂蟽蟿蠈; 螘蟺喂蟽蟿萎渭慰谓蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蠁喂位蠈蟽慰蠁慰喂 伪谓伪味畏蟿慰蠉谓 蔚未蠋 魏伪喂 伪喂蠋谓蔚蟼 伪蟺伪谓蟿萎蟽蔚喂蟼 蟽蟿伪 蔚蟻蠅蟿萎渭伪蟿伪 伪蠀蟿维, 伪位位维 渭苇蠂蟻喂 蟽萎渭蔚蟻伪 未蔚谓 蔚委蠂伪谓 魏伪蟿伪蠁苇蟻蔚喂 谓伪 蟿喂蟼 蟽蟿畏蟻委尉慰蠀谓 蟽蔚 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位苇蟽渭伪蟿伪 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿畏渭慰谓喂魏蠋谓 蟺蔚喂蟻伪渭维蟿蠅谓. 危蟿慰 危蠉渭蟺伪谓 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏蟼 蟺蟻慰蟿蔚委谓蔚蟿伪喂 纬喂伪 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏 蠁慰蟻维 渭喂伪 蔚渭蟺蔚喂蟻喂魏维 胃蔚渭蔚位喂蠅渭苇谓畏 魏伪喂 慰位慰魏位畏蟻蠅渭苇谓畏 胃蔚蠅蟻委伪 纬喂伪 蟿畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏. 韦伪 伪蟺慰蟿蔚位苇蟽渭伪蟿伪 蟿畏蟼 蟺蟻蠅蟿慰蟺慰蟻喂伪魏萎蟼 蔚蟻纬伪蟽委伪蟼 蟿蠅谓 Edelman 魏伪喂 Tononi 胃苇蟿慰蠀谓 蠀蟺蠈 伪渭蠁喂蟽尾萎蟿畏蟽畏 蟺慰位位苇蟼 蔚蠀蟻苇蠅蟼 未喂伪未蔚未慰渭苇谓蔚蟼 伪蟺蠈蠄蔚喂蟼 纬喂伪 蟿畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏: 危蟿畏蟻委味慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿喂蟼 胃苇蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀 桅蟻蠈蠀谓蟿, 慰喂 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁蔚委蟼 未蔚委蠂谓慰蠀谓 蠈蟿喂 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 慰谓慰渭维味慰蠀渭蔚 蠀蟺慰蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟿慰 伪蟺慰蟻蟻慰蠁维 蟺慰位蠉 渭蔚纬伪位蠉蟿蔚蟻慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚纬魏蔚蠁伪位喂魏萎蟼 未蟻伪蟽蟿畏蟻喂蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼 伪蟺鈥� 蠈,蟿喂 蟺喂蟽蟿蔚蠉伪渭蔚 苇蠅蟼 蟿蠋蟻伪. 韦苇位慰蟼, 苇蟻蠂慰谓蟿伪喂 蟽蔚 蟻萎尉畏 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 苇谓谓慰喂伪 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏蟼 蠅蟼 蔚谓喂伪委伪蟼 慰谓蟿蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼, 蠀蟺慰蟽蟿畏蟻委味慰谓蟿伪蟼 蠈蟿喂 魏维胃蔚 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰蟼 苇蠂蔚喂 蟿慰 未喂魏蠈 蟿慰蠀, 渭慰谓伪未喂魏蠈 芦伪蟺慰蟿蠉蟺蠅渭伪 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏蟼禄, 蠀蟺慰纬蟻伪渭渭委味慰谓蟿伪蟼 苇蟿蟽喂 蟿畏谓 魏伪委蟻喂伪 蟽畏渭伪蟽委伪 蟿畏蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓畏蟼 伪蟿慰渭喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼.
450 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
88 people are currently reading
2,332 people want to read
About the author
Gerald M. Edelman
25听books99听followersGerald Maurice Edelman (born July 1, 1929) is an American biologist who shared the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for work with Rodney Robert Porter on the immune system.[1] Edelman's Nobel Prize-winning research concerned discovery of the structure of antibody molecules.[2] In interviews, he has said that the way the components of the immune system evolve over the life of the individual is analogous to the way the components of the brain evolve in a lifetime. There is a continuity in this way between his work on the immune system, for which he won the Nobel Prize, and his later work in neuroscience and in philosophy of mind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 11, 2019
This book starts out seeming like it realy is going to provide a seemless link between philosophy and neuro science on the subject of consciousness. What it turns out to be is a fairly reflective pop science book with a great deal of conjecture. Like most pop science writers Edelman and Tononi manage to make a mess of trying to explain some fundamentally important philosophical points by dumming them down. It leaves me thinking that if some of the greatest philosophical ideas could have been simplified, they would have been by the philosophers that wrote them in the first place.
The book dips quite considerably in the middle, where the authors manage to go through a lot of baffling science that to me seems completely unnecessary to explaining the overall point that they are trying to reach.
The authors manage to make this more than a worth while read by the end of the book however, by tying a lot of the previous chapters together, providing an incredibly intricate yet manageable overview of how the brain works.
Although I don't think the authors manage to achieve the impossible goal they set out to achieve in explaining human consciousness scientifically and philosophically, they do provide you with enough meat to start kicking your own ideas around.
The book dips quite considerably in the middle, where the authors manage to go through a lot of baffling science that to me seems completely unnecessary to explaining the overall point that they are trying to reach.
The authors manage to make this more than a worth while read by the end of the book however, by tying a lot of the previous chapters together, providing an incredibly intricate yet manageable overview of how the brain works.
Although I don't think the authors manage to achieve the impossible goal they set out to achieve in explaining human consciousness scientifically and philosophically, they do provide you with enough meat to start kicking your own ideas around.
February 20, 2014
Neurobiology of consciousness
This is an excellent review of consciousness from the neurobiological point of view. Consciousness has been an interesting topic for study not only for neurobiologists but also for philosophers and physicists. Although consciousness is a highly debated topic because of its close interaction with matter in space and time, it is certainly least understood subject as it is at the borderline of physics, philosophy and neurobiology. Some quantum physicists argue that it is a universal field like space, time or energy, but consciousness does not figure in equations or any mathematical calculations. Secondly consciousness is found only in living beings and not in inanimate objects: Particularly animals that have brain and central nervous system. The book is summarized as follows:
Three working assumptions are made as methodological platform; 1) the physics assumption; conventional physical processes are required to explain consciousness or the conscious experience, 2) the evolutionary assumption; consciousness is evolved by natural selection in the animal systems, and 3) qualia assumption; the subjective, qualitative aspects of consciousness, being private, cannot be communicated directly through a scientific theory. The authors do not attempt to explain many forms of perception, imagery, thought, emo卢tion, mood, attention, will, or self-consciousness. Instead, they concentrate on certain fundamental properties of consciousness that are shared by every conscious states, such as the unity of a conscious state experienced as a whole and cannot be subdivided into independent components, and the infor卢mativeness, i.e., where a conscious state is selected from a repertoire of billions of possible conscious states, each with different behavioral consequences within a fraction of a second. The basic assumption in all this is that consciousness is a process that is private, selective, and continually changing. It is strictly a process, and not belonging to a particular section of brain. This means that consciousness is associated with biological structures that produce dynamic processes. Thus both morphology and consciousness are the products of evolutionary selection (natural selection). This assumption about the evolutionary origin of consciousness avoids fruitless efforts to relate consciousness to computer logic or the effect of quantum gravity on neurons or a pure quantum physical process while diminishing the role of brain.
Neural substrates of consciousness involve large populations of neurons and no single area of brain is responsible for conscious experience. As the task to be learned is practiced and its performance becomes more and more mechanical then the learning task fades from the memory and the regions for this task becomes smaller. Conscious experience is associated with changes of activity patterns occurring simultaneously in many regions of brain (i.e., activation and inactivation of a population of neurons). It is not how many neurons are active but it is the distribution of groups of neurons that can engage in strong and rapid re-entrant interactions. Further more, the activity patterns of rapidly interacting groups must be constantly changing and sufficiently differentiated from each other: This is called Dynamic Core Hypothesis. Consciousness is an extraordinarily differentiated. At any given time, we experience a particular conscious state selected out of billions of possible states, each of which can lead to different behavioral consequences. The occurrence of a particular conscious state is therefore highly informative in the specific sense that information is the reduction of uncertainty among a number of alternatives. If this is the case the neural processes underlying the conscious experience must also be highly differentiated and informative.
Memory is a central brain mechanism that leads to consciousness. Memory does not store inscription or information in any format. In higher organisms it is an act of creation for every act of perception, and every act of memory is an act of imagination. The primary consciousness has the ability to construct an integrated mental scene in the present that does not require language or true sense of self. The integrated neural scene depends on both perceptual categorization of incoming sensor stimuli (the present) and its interaction with categorical memories (the past). The neural mechanisms distinguish primary consciousness and higher order consciousness. Primary consciousness is found in human as well as some higher order animals, but these lack language, analytical skill, and limited symbolic (semantic) capabilities. Still they are capable of constructing a mental scene. The higher-order consciousness found in humans has semantic capability and linguistic capability in most advanced form which provides a sense of self and the ability to construct past and future. The author' main contention is that the consciousness arose from evolutionary innovations in the morphology of the brain and body. The mind arises from the body and its development. Much of the discussion by the authors are theoretical in nature and needs extensive experimental evidences to support this theory.
This is an excellent review of consciousness from the neurobiological point of view. Consciousness has been an interesting topic for study not only for neurobiologists but also for philosophers and physicists. Although consciousness is a highly debated topic because of its close interaction with matter in space and time, it is certainly least understood subject as it is at the borderline of physics, philosophy and neurobiology. Some quantum physicists argue that it is a universal field like space, time or energy, but consciousness does not figure in equations or any mathematical calculations. Secondly consciousness is found only in living beings and not in inanimate objects: Particularly animals that have brain and central nervous system. The book is summarized as follows:
Three working assumptions are made as methodological platform; 1) the physics assumption; conventional physical processes are required to explain consciousness or the conscious experience, 2) the evolutionary assumption; consciousness is evolved by natural selection in the animal systems, and 3) qualia assumption; the subjective, qualitative aspects of consciousness, being private, cannot be communicated directly through a scientific theory. The authors do not attempt to explain many forms of perception, imagery, thought, emo卢tion, mood, attention, will, or self-consciousness. Instead, they concentrate on certain fundamental properties of consciousness that are shared by every conscious states, such as the unity of a conscious state experienced as a whole and cannot be subdivided into independent components, and the infor卢mativeness, i.e., where a conscious state is selected from a repertoire of billions of possible conscious states, each with different behavioral consequences within a fraction of a second. The basic assumption in all this is that consciousness is a process that is private, selective, and continually changing. It is strictly a process, and not belonging to a particular section of brain. This means that consciousness is associated with biological structures that produce dynamic processes. Thus both morphology and consciousness are the products of evolutionary selection (natural selection). This assumption about the evolutionary origin of consciousness avoids fruitless efforts to relate consciousness to computer logic or the effect of quantum gravity on neurons or a pure quantum physical process while diminishing the role of brain.
Neural substrates of consciousness involve large populations of neurons and no single area of brain is responsible for conscious experience. As the task to be learned is practiced and its performance becomes more and more mechanical then the learning task fades from the memory and the regions for this task becomes smaller. Conscious experience is associated with changes of activity patterns occurring simultaneously in many regions of brain (i.e., activation and inactivation of a population of neurons). It is not how many neurons are active but it is the distribution of groups of neurons that can engage in strong and rapid re-entrant interactions. Further more, the activity patterns of rapidly interacting groups must be constantly changing and sufficiently differentiated from each other: This is called Dynamic Core Hypothesis. Consciousness is an extraordinarily differentiated. At any given time, we experience a particular conscious state selected out of billions of possible states, each of which can lead to different behavioral consequences. The occurrence of a particular conscious state is therefore highly informative in the specific sense that information is the reduction of uncertainty among a number of alternatives. If this is the case the neural processes underlying the conscious experience must also be highly differentiated and informative.
Memory is a central brain mechanism that leads to consciousness. Memory does not store inscription or information in any format. In higher organisms it is an act of creation for every act of perception, and every act of memory is an act of imagination. The primary consciousness has the ability to construct an integrated mental scene in the present that does not require language or true sense of self. The integrated neural scene depends on both perceptual categorization of incoming sensor stimuli (the present) and its interaction with categorical memories (the past). The neural mechanisms distinguish primary consciousness and higher order consciousness. Primary consciousness is found in human as well as some higher order animals, but these lack language, analytical skill, and limited symbolic (semantic) capabilities. Still they are capable of constructing a mental scene. The higher-order consciousness found in humans has semantic capability and linguistic capability in most advanced form which provides a sense of self and the ability to construct past and future. The author' main contention is that the consciousness arose from evolutionary innovations in the morphology of the brain and body. The mind arises from the body and its development. Much of the discussion by the authors are theoretical in nature and needs extensive experimental evidences to support this theory.
May 27, 2020
Hard to rate. Undoubtedly a seminal work. But what could be expected, the book falls in the unfortunate range of 'too old for valuable scientific insight' and 'too new for historical perspectives'. (From a neuroscientist perspective)
February 12, 2018
Las instrucciones de como opera el cerebro que deberian venir incluidas al nacer y deberiamos leer en cuanto podamos.
B谩sicamente este vato super listo que obtuvo un Nobel, te explica que sucede en nuestro cerebro cuantos tantas procesos neuronales y sorprendemente le entiendes a pasar de no saber nada de neurolog铆a ni psicolog铆a (al menos en mi caso).
Desde definir los conceptos de lo que y no es conciencia, explicar los procesos del cerebro con cuestiones cotidianas, utilizando diferentes puntos de vista sin salirse del marco cient铆fico. La teor铆a si te la da ya bastante masticada, este vato hizo demasiada investigaci贸n antes de llegar a lo que comparte, si buscas algo mas especializado no recomiendo empezar por aqu铆.0
En muy pocas ocasiones el libro se vuelve complicado, nada que una rele铆da de un cap铆tulo no arregle.
Al terminar de leer este libro sent铆 que contaba con una m谩quina que entiendo como funciona y como aprovechar al m谩ximo su potencial.
Recomendable si no la saconeas a las lecturas cient铆ficas. :P
B谩sicamente este vato super listo que obtuvo un Nobel, te explica que sucede en nuestro cerebro cuantos tantas procesos neuronales y sorprendemente le entiendes a pasar de no saber nada de neurolog铆a ni psicolog铆a (al menos en mi caso).
Desde definir los conceptos de lo que y no es conciencia, explicar los procesos del cerebro con cuestiones cotidianas, utilizando diferentes puntos de vista sin salirse del marco cient铆fico. La teor铆a si te la da ya bastante masticada, este vato hizo demasiada investigaci贸n antes de llegar a lo que comparte, si buscas algo mas especializado no recomiendo empezar por aqu铆.0
En muy pocas ocasiones el libro se vuelve complicado, nada que una rele铆da de un cap铆tulo no arregle.
Al terminar de leer este libro sent铆 que contaba con una m谩quina que entiendo como funciona y como aprovechar al m谩ximo su potencial.
Recomendable si no la saconeas a las lecturas cient铆ficas. :P
January 4, 2019
螘喂蟽维纬蔚喂 苇谓谓慰喂蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉谓 谓伪 蟺蔚蟻喂纬蟻维蠄慰蠀谓 渭蔚 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿畏渭慰谓喂魏萎 蔚蟺维蟻魏蔚喂伪 蟿慰 蠁伪喂谓蠈渭蔚谓慰 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏蟼. 螤慰位蠉 魏伪蟿伪蟿慰蟺喂蟽蟿喂魏蠈.
June 29, 2011
Published by Penguin in 2000 this book provides a report on what one could call an interim stage in the burgeoning field of studies of the human brain and what we refer to as consciousness. The approach of the authors is purely scientific, and is intended to clarify some of the many complicated aspects of this most difficult of complex subjects. In so doing it is obvious that numerous technical terms need to be distinguished, and it is in these more technical areas that ordinary readers (myself included) can find themselves lost as to what exactly is being talked about. The authors are aware of this, however, so they have arranged their hypotheses in such a way that in general each chapter has a kind of synopsis (in italics) at the beginning of the chapter, and the first part of the subsequent text is a further elaboration which is also generally accessible to the ordinary reader. The last parts of each chapter have separate headings, and it is usually in these section that the more technical matters are dealt with (I must admit I tended to only skim-read these sections just to get some sense of the gist of their arguments 鈥� but I cannot pretend to having understood everything presented). As a consequence this book will probably be of much greater interest to those who are aware of the various neurological tests and discussions in this comparatively new area of study than to an ordinary layman.
That being said, for anyone prepared to work through this work there are many sharp insights along the way. While the authors insist on being as purely scientific as possible, they are not excessively reductionist. They include philosophical interpretations (this is an area where science has more or less taken over from traditional philosophy in the attempt to explain consciousness). By acknowledging the high level of complexity involved the authors indicate how individualistic each human is. They further conclude:
"There are no completely separate domains of matter and mind and no grounds for dualism. But obviously, there is a realm created by the physical order of the brain, the body and the social world in which meaning is consciously made. That meaning is essential both to our description of the world and to our scientific understanding of it. It is the amazingly complex material structures of the nervous system and body that give rise to dynamic mental recesses and to meaning. Nothing else need be assumed 鈥� neither other worlds, or spirits, or remarkable forces as yet unplumbed, such as quantum gravity."
That being said, for anyone prepared to work through this work there are many sharp insights along the way. While the authors insist on being as purely scientific as possible, they are not excessively reductionist. They include philosophical interpretations (this is an area where science has more or less taken over from traditional philosophy in the attempt to explain consciousness). By acknowledging the high level of complexity involved the authors indicate how individualistic each human is. They further conclude:
"There are no completely separate domains of matter and mind and no grounds for dualism. But obviously, there is a realm created by the physical order of the brain, the body and the social world in which meaning is consciously made. That meaning is essential both to our description of the world and to our scientific understanding of it. It is the amazingly complex material structures of the nervous system and body that give rise to dynamic mental recesses and to meaning. Nothing else need be assumed 鈥� neither other worlds, or spirits, or remarkable forces as yet unplumbed, such as quantum gravity."
July 8, 2019
TOUCHING THE LIGHT AT THE EDGE OF EVERYTHING
Within a single human brain the number of potential circuits are far greater than the number of molecules in the Universe. And from this chaotic complexity emerges an experience most of us are aware of but are hardly able to contain into words: Consciousness. From philosophers and psychologists to engineers and physicists, everyone seems to have some idea on how to approach this elusive subject. However, since this is a brain-based activity, it is the neurobiological approach that, in the end, is more luckily to bear tangible fruits.
As above, so below: this mystical Hermetic axiom seems to be the key to unlocking Edelman's approach. Evolution and natural selection seems to apply not only to the level of organisms but also to memory systems. Edelman shared a Nobel prize in 1972 for his work on the evolving immune system. He then used a similar approach to tackle the mystery of our minds.
Consciousness: How Matter Becomes Imagination is not an easy book. It is dense with concepts and it will require the reader's full attention and dedication. Edelman's older theories (Neuronal Darwinism and Biological Consciousness) are presented in brief but not explained in depth - for that I would recommend his older book The Remembered Present: A Biological Theory of Consciousness. On the other hand, this book is not limited to specialists; dedicated enthusiasts can still get the most out of it. Its 274 pages are organized in seventeen chapters with full bibliography and index.
As memory and consciousness are also my foci of study (and research papers alone rarely offer the big picture!), I have read most of the books on the subject, from Dennet's Consciousness Explained to Penrose's The Emperor's New Mind. However, I find the biological approach to be the most promising.
After all, any physicist or philosopher still has to use his brain to comprehend how his mind is interacting with the Universe. And until we are able to grasp, at least, the framing dimensions of our inner Universe, scientific progress is bound to be as conditional and ritualistic as ancient star-gazing .
Within a single human brain the number of potential circuits are far greater than the number of molecules in the Universe. And from this chaotic complexity emerges an experience most of us are aware of but are hardly able to contain into words: Consciousness. From philosophers and psychologists to engineers and physicists, everyone seems to have some idea on how to approach this elusive subject. However, since this is a brain-based activity, it is the neurobiological approach that, in the end, is more luckily to bear tangible fruits.
As above, so below: this mystical Hermetic axiom seems to be the key to unlocking Edelman's approach. Evolution and natural selection seems to apply not only to the level of organisms but also to memory systems. Edelman shared a Nobel prize in 1972 for his work on the evolving immune system. He then used a similar approach to tackle the mystery of our minds.
Consciousness: How Matter Becomes Imagination is not an easy book. It is dense with concepts and it will require the reader's full attention and dedication. Edelman's older theories (Neuronal Darwinism and Biological Consciousness) are presented in brief but not explained in depth - for that I would recommend his older book The Remembered Present: A Biological Theory of Consciousness. On the other hand, this book is not limited to specialists; dedicated enthusiasts can still get the most out of it. Its 274 pages are organized in seventeen chapters with full bibliography and index.
As memory and consciousness are also my foci of study (and research papers alone rarely offer the big picture!), I have read most of the books on the subject, from Dennet's Consciousness Explained to Penrose's The Emperor's New Mind. However, I find the biological approach to be the most promising.
After all, any physicist or philosopher still has to use his brain to comprehend how his mind is interacting with the Universe. And until we are able to grasp, at least, the framing dimensions of our inner Universe, scientific progress is bound to be as conditional and ritualistic as ancient star-gazing .
June 25, 2013
This is really a good book which I enjoyed reading and learning more about neuroscience . In the book they explain and elaborate on the " Theory of Neuronal Group Selection" to explain consciousness. The interesting feature of the book is the marriage of evolutionary theory with modern neuroscience which I find plausible and reasonable. The writers are quite explicit and honest differentiating between Hard scientific facts and moments of speculations in their book! I am much enlighted now and better equiped after reading this book! Very much recommended for serious readers!
August 3, 2011
A primer that brings the reader up to speed on the contemporary scientific viewpoint on consciousness with elegant experimental explanations. This book should be mostly understandable without a science background but note that this is not a comprehensive introduction to the topic. Philosophical positions on consciousness are touched upon but just enough to put the experiments into context. Especially recommended to those that only know "consciousness" through popular sources.
March 1, 2012
by the tenth or eleventh chapter, this book no longer rehashes the last 30 years of neuroscientific discoveries, instead it plunges head-first (pun unavoidable) into reentry, neural complexity and the core formulas of consciousness. The math sets up the engine, yet there is no true threshold (the math requires observation).
Want to read
February 20, 2010Theoretical framework for consciousness based on minimal complexity
November 21, 2019
Let's say that after finishing the book, this final epistemological chapter positively struck me. I am convinced by the idea that language is not inherited but that the ways of approaching the world are. This is somewhat their approach throughout the book, which leaves us sociologists with ample space to tell and explain the phenotypic expressions of these modalities (example, language as a cultural product). But, I know, we could also discuss the ontological and epistemological power of social sciences, as a biological explanation does not account for everything. As for now, 21 November 2019, I think that social sciences can have a say more in epistemological rather than ontological terms, but this is another story.
I like the holistic cut that they give at the end of the book, rejecting dualism and essentialism, which slowly emerges during the course of the discussion. That is to say, from what I understand, that their idea of mind and body as inseparable derives from various considerations: a) information does not exist without interpretation, b) every brain is different and every brain (outside of anomalies ) is integrated (re-entry) and differentiated (different functions), c) there are different types of consciousness, also in terms of conscious and unconscious, whose neural structures are explained here and which the body (for example the blood system) and the environment have shaped (in the here and now but also evolutionarily).
It must be said that I could not grasp everything, being specific and technical above all in the crucial parts, but I got the gist and the fundamental concepts. Edelman is a strong supporter of the evolutionary origin of the brain, in terms of specialization and complexity, and the development of a theory that brought consciousness out of this complexity was predictable. Throughout the book, the authors reflect on information and complexity (does information exist without a coder? How to consider the relationship between parts of the brain and the whole?). The answers they give are certainly part of a wide debate, but when they are accepted, it is decidedly compelling. I discovered some crazy things, like the concepts of re-entry (stimuli that pass from certain neurons of the brain connecting different areas), dynamic nucleus (continuous mutation of the brain areas that form the conscious experience), present remembered (consciousness of the present as an aggregation of past experiences, also in evolutionary terms), and others. It is a fascinating book, which should be studied in depth to understand its architecture well, but which, from a first reading, form an excellent perspective on the contemporary scientific debate about the relationship between consciousness and the brain. It was published in 2000, and throughout the book there is reluctance towards quantum theory, perhaps due to the limitations of theories and applications at the time, and certainly a new edition updated in this direction would be fantastic. But maybe it would take another book, I don't know. In any case, for me it is an excellent reading.
I like the holistic cut that they give at the end of the book, rejecting dualism and essentialism, which slowly emerges during the course of the discussion. That is to say, from what I understand, that their idea of mind and body as inseparable derives from various considerations: a) information does not exist without interpretation, b) every brain is different and every brain (outside of anomalies ) is integrated (re-entry) and differentiated (different functions), c) there are different types of consciousness, also in terms of conscious and unconscious, whose neural structures are explained here and which the body (for example the blood system) and the environment have shaped (in the here and now but also evolutionarily).
It must be said that I could not grasp everything, being specific and technical above all in the crucial parts, but I got the gist and the fundamental concepts. Edelman is a strong supporter of the evolutionary origin of the brain, in terms of specialization and complexity, and the development of a theory that brought consciousness out of this complexity was predictable. Throughout the book, the authors reflect on information and complexity (does information exist without a coder? How to consider the relationship between parts of the brain and the whole?). The answers they give are certainly part of a wide debate, but when they are accepted, it is decidedly compelling. I discovered some crazy things, like the concepts of re-entry (stimuli that pass from certain neurons of the brain connecting different areas), dynamic nucleus (continuous mutation of the brain areas that form the conscious experience), present remembered (consciousness of the present as an aggregation of past experiences, also in evolutionary terms), and others. It is a fascinating book, which should be studied in depth to understand its architecture well, but which, from a first reading, form an excellent perspective on the contemporary scientific debate about the relationship between consciousness and the brain. It was published in 2000, and throughout the book there is reluctance towards quantum theory, perhaps due to the limitations of theories and applications at the time, and certainly a new edition updated in this direction would be fantastic. But maybe it would take another book, I don't know. In any case, for me it is an excellent reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2024
螒谓 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂 苇谓伪 蟺蟻维纬渭伪 蟺慰蠀 纬谓蠅蟻委味蠅 蔚委谓伪喂 蠈蟿喂 蟽魏苇蟺蟿慰渭伪喂, 萎, 伪位位喂蠋蟼, 蠈蟿喂 苇蠂蠅 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏. 螌位伪 蟿伪 蠀蟺蠈位慰喂蟺伪, 畏 蠉蟺伪蟻尉畏 蟿畏蟼 蠁蠉蟽畏蟼, 蟿蠅谓 维位位蠅谓 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺蠅谓, 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠉渭蟺伪谓蟿慰蟼 慰位蠈魏位畏蟻慰蠀 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蔚委谓伪喂 渭喂伪 伪蟺维蟿畏 萎 渭委伪 伪蠀蟿伪蟺维蟿畏.
韦慰 蟽蠉渭蟺伪谓 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽萎蟼 渭慰蠀, 蠈渭蠅蟼, 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂. 螝伪喂 伪蟺蠈 伪蠀蟿蠈 蔚尉伪蟻蟿维蟿伪喂 畏 伪谓蟿委位畏蠄畏 蟺慰蠀 苇蠂蠅 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰. 违蟺蠈 伪蠀蟿萎 蟿畏谓 慰蟺蟿喂魏萎, 伪谓 苇蟺蟻蔚蟺蔚 谓伪 未蠋蟽蠅 蟺蟻慰蟿蔚蟻伪喂蠈蟿畏蟿蔚蟼 蟽蟿喂蟼 纬谓蠋蟽蔚喂蟼 蟺慰蠀 胃苇位蠅 谓伪 伪蟺慰魏蟿萎蟽蠅, 蟽蟿畏谓 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏 胃苇蟽畏 胃伪 苇蟺蟻蔚蟺蔚 谓伪 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏. 韦喂 蔚委谓伪喂 畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏; 螤蠅蟼 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬蔚委蟿伪喂 (伪谓) 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蠉位畏; 螘委谓伪喂 渭委伪 萎 蟺慰位位苇蟼; 螕喂伪蟿委 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂; 螘委谓伪喂 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏维 蔚位蔚蠉胃蔚蟻畏 谓伪 伪蟺慰蠁伪蟽委味蔚喂;
螕喂伪蟿委, 位慰喂蟺蠈谓, 未蔚谓 渭蔚位蔚蟿维渭蔚 蟿畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏; 螘蟺蔚喂未萎 畏 渭蔚位苇蟿畏 蟿畏蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蟺蠈 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏蠈蟿伪蟿伪 未蠉蟽魏慰位畏 苇蠅蟼 伪未蠉谓伪蟿畏.
韦慰 尾喂尾位委慰 魏伪蟿伪蟺喂维谓蔚蟿伪喂 渭蔚 伪蠀蟿维 蟿伪 蔚蟻蠅蟿萎渭伪蟿伪 魏伪喂 魏维谓蔚喂 蟿伪 伪未蠉谓伪蟿伪 未蠀谓伪蟿维 纬喂伪 谓伪 尉蔚魏慰位位萎蟽蔚喂 蟿慰 蟺蟻蠈尾位畏渭伪 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰谓 蟺维蟿慰 蟿慰蠀 魏伪味伪谓喂慰蠉 蟿畏蟼 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蠀蟽喂魏萎蟼 魏伪喂 谓伪 未蔚委尉蔚喂 蠈蟿喂 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 魏维蟺慰喂伪 蟽蟿喂纬渭萎 魏伪喂 谓伪 位蠀胃蔚委.
桅蠀蟽喂魏维, 慰 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏蟼, 渭蔚蟿维 伪蟺蠈 魏蠈蟺慰 魏伪喂 渭蠈蠂胃慰 (慰喂 渭伪胃畏渭伪蟿喂魏苇蟼 苇谓谓慰喂蔚蟼 未蔚谓 胃伪 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉蟽伪谓 谓伪 位蔚委蟺慰蠀谓 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 伪蟺蠈蟺蔚喂蟻伪 蔚尉萎纬畏蟽畏蟼 蟿慰蠀 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻委慰蠀 蟿蠅谓 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻委蠅谓) 谓喂蠋胃蔚喂 蟺喂慰 蟺蟿蠅蠂蠈蟼 蟽蔚 纬谓蠋蟽蔚喂蟼 纬喂伪 蟿畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏 伪蟺蠈 蠈,蟿喂 萎蟿伪谓 蟺蟻喂谓 蟿慰 未喂伪尾维蟽蔚喂. 螤蟿蠅蠂蠈蟼, 蟺位畏谓 蟿委渭喂慰蟼!
韦慰 蟽蠉渭蟺伪谓 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽萎蟼 渭慰蠀, 蠈渭蠅蟼, 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂. 螝伪喂 伪蟺蠈 伪蠀蟿蠈 蔚尉伪蟻蟿维蟿伪喂 畏 伪谓蟿委位畏蠄畏 蟺慰蠀 苇蠂蠅 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟽渭慰. 违蟺蠈 伪蠀蟿萎 蟿畏谓 慰蟺蟿喂魏萎, 伪谓 苇蟺蟻蔚蟺蔚 谓伪 未蠋蟽蠅 蟺蟻慰蟿蔚蟻伪喂蠈蟿畏蟿蔚蟼 蟽蟿喂蟼 纬谓蠋蟽蔚喂蟼 蟺慰蠀 胃苇位蠅 谓伪 伪蟺慰魏蟿萎蟽蠅, 蟽蟿畏谓 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏 胃苇蟽畏 胃伪 苇蟺蟻蔚蟺蔚 谓伪 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚蟿伪喂 畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏. 韦喂 蔚委谓伪喂 畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏; 螤蠅蟼 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬蔚委蟿伪喂 (伪谓) 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蠉位畏; 螘委谓伪喂 渭委伪 萎 蟺慰位位苇蟼; 螕喂伪蟿委 蠀蟺维蟻蠂蔚喂; 螘委谓伪喂 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏维 蔚位蔚蠉胃蔚蟻畏 谓伪 伪蟺慰蠁伪蟽委味蔚喂;
螕喂伪蟿委, 位慰喂蟺蠈谓, 未蔚谓 渭蔚位蔚蟿维渭蔚 蟿畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏; 螘蟺蔚喂未萎 畏 渭蔚位苇蟿畏 蟿畏蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蟺蠈 蔚尉伪喂蟻蔚蟿喂魏蠈蟿伪蟿伪 未蠉蟽魏慰位畏 苇蠅蟼 伪未蠉谓伪蟿畏.
韦慰 尾喂尾位委慰 魏伪蟿伪蟺喂维谓蔚蟿伪喂 渭蔚 伪蠀蟿维 蟿伪 蔚蟻蠅蟿萎渭伪蟿伪 魏伪喂 魏维谓蔚喂 蟿伪 伪未蠉谓伪蟿伪 未蠀谓伪蟿维 纬喂伪 谓伪 尉蔚魏慰位位萎蟽蔚喂 蟿慰 蟺蟻蠈尾位畏渭伪 蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰谓 蟺维蟿慰 蟿慰蠀 魏伪味伪谓喂慰蠉 蟿畏蟼 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蠀蟽喂魏萎蟼 魏伪喂 谓伪 未蔚委尉蔚喂 蠈蟿喂 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 魏维蟺慰喂伪 蟽蟿喂纬渭萎 魏伪喂 谓伪 位蠀胃蔚委.
桅蠀蟽喂魏维, 慰 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏蟼, 渭蔚蟿维 伪蟺蠈 魏蠈蟺慰 魏伪喂 渭蠈蠂胃慰 (慰喂 渭伪胃畏渭伪蟿喂魏苇蟼 苇谓谓慰喂蔚蟼 未蔚谓 胃伪 渭蟺慰蟻慰蠉蟽伪谓 谓伪 位蔚委蟺慰蠀谓 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 伪蟺蠈蟺蔚喂蟻伪 蔚尉萎纬畏蟽畏蟼 蟿慰蠀 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻委慰蠀 蟿蠅谓 渭蠀蟽蟿畏蟻委蠅谓) 谓喂蠋胃蔚喂 蟺喂慰 蟺蟿蠅蠂蠈蟼 蟽蔚 纬谓蠋蟽蔚喂蟼 纬喂伪 蟿畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏 伪蟺蠈 蠈,蟿喂 萎蟿伪谓 蟺蟻喂谓 蟿慰 未喂伪尾维蟽蔚喂. 螤蟿蠅蠂蠈蟼, 蟺位畏谓 蟿委渭喂慰蟼!
August 9, 2020
T慰 尾喂尾位委慰 伪蠀蟿蠈 伪谓伪位蠉蔚喂 蟿畏谓 位蔚喂蟿慰蠀蟻纬委蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 蔚纬魏蔚蠁维位慰蠀 蟽蠂蔚蟿喂魏维 渭蔚 蟿慰 谓蔚蠀蟻蠅谓喂魏蠈 蟽蠉蟽蟿畏渭伪 魏伪喂 蟿喂蟼 未喂蔚蟻纬伪蟽委蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚蟺喂蟿蔚位慰蠉谓蟿伪喂 渭苇蠂蟻喂 谓伪 蠁蟿维蟽慰蠀渭蔚 蟽蟿慰 蔚蟺委蟺蔚未慰 谓伪 渭喂位维渭蔚 纬喂伪 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 慰谓慰渭维味慰蠀渭蔚 <<蔚谓蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟿畏 蔚渭蟺蔚喂蟻委伪>>. 螣喂 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁蔚委蟼 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀 (伪蟺蠈 蠈蟿喂 魏伪蟿维位伪尾伪) 蠀蟺慰蟽蟿畏蟻委味慰蠀谓 蟺蠅蟼 畏 蟽蠀谓蔚委未畏蟽畏 蠅蟼 渭喂伪 蟽蠀谓蔚蠂蠈渭蔚谓畏 未喂蔚蟻纬伪蟽委伪蟼 魏伪喂 蠈蠂喂 苇谓伪 渭蠈谓慰 "蟺蟻维纬渭伪". 螤蟻慰蟿蔚委谓慰蠀谓 蟿慰 渭慰谓蟿苇位慰 蟿慰蠀 未蠀谓伪渭喂魏慰蠉 蟺蠀蟻萎谓伪 蠈蟺蠅蟼 蟿慰 慰谓慰渭维味慰蠀谓.
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螡慰渭委味蠅 蟺蠅蟼 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 未蔚谓 伪蟺蔚蠀胃蠉谓蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿慰谓 渭苇蟽慰 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏 尾喂尾位委蠅谓 蔚魏位伪蠆魏蔚蠀渭苇谓畏蟼 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿萎渭畏蟼. 螌蟽慰 魏伪喂 谓伪 蔚蟺喂渭苇谓蔚喂蟼 蟽蔚 魏维蟺慰喂伪 魏慰渭渭维蟿喂 伪蟺位维 未蔚谓 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 魏伪蟿伪位维尾蔚喂蟼 蟿喂 位苇蔚喂 伪谓 未蔚谓 苇蠂蔚喂蟼 魏维蟺慰喂伪 蟽蠂苇蟽畏 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 蠂蠋蟻慰 蟿蠅谓 谓蔚蠀蟻慰蔚蟺喂蟽蟿畏渭蠋谓.
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螡慰渭委味蠅 蟺蠅蟼 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 未蔚谓 伪蟺蔚蠀胃蠉谓蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿慰谓 渭苇蟽慰 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿畏 尾喂尾位委蠅谓 蔚魏位伪蠆魏蔚蠀渭苇谓畏蟼 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿萎渭畏蟼. 螌蟽慰 魏伪喂 谓伪 蔚蟺喂渭苇谓蔚喂蟼 蟽蔚 魏维蟺慰喂伪 魏慰渭渭维蟿喂 伪蟺位维 未蔚谓 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 魏伪蟿伪位维尾蔚喂蟼 蟿喂 位苇蔚喂 伪谓 未蔚谓 苇蠂蔚喂蟼 魏维蟺慰喂伪 蟽蠂苇蟽畏 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 蠂蠋蟻慰 蟿蠅谓 谓蔚蠀蟻慰蔚蟺喂蟽蟿畏渭蠋谓.
August 6, 2023
Got this one as a gift. I gave it a shot, but wow, way over my head. This is not a general discussion on where consciousness comes from. This a highly detailed discussion, written by two MD PhD neuroscientists. It reads to me like a grad school level textbook, and the intended audience are future neuroscientists. I found it extremely difficult to follow. I did understand their general idea that they believe consciousness comes from processes from within the brain, not from a specific area or areas, which I do find interesting. I personally believe human consciousness is something beyond just the brain.
If you're looking for a highly detailed discussion of the brain and how the author's believe consciousness comes from, pick it up. If you're looking for a more general discussion on consciousness and not interested in book that reads like a grad school level textbook, I would suggest avoiding this.
If you're looking for a highly detailed discussion of the brain and how the author's believe consciousness comes from, pick it up. If you're looking for a more general discussion on consciousness and not interested in book that reads like a grad school level textbook, I would suggest avoiding this.
February 2, 2025
The detailed biological information presented invokes a sense of wonder and stimulates so many thoughts and ideas. A coherent theory of consciouness is presented that recognizes its own limitations but refutes other views in a clear manner. While there is a lot of terminology, the value comes through even without a degree in neuroscience.
June 21, 2021
Extremely dense. I can't claim to understand all of it, but what I understood was really interesting.
Here's the New York Times article (from ten years ago!) that inspired me to (eventually) read the book:
Here's the New York Times article (from ten years ago!) that inspired me to (eventually) read the book:
July 27, 2021
This book generated a reading list as long as the number of possible conscious states available to me right now.
Gonna have to chew on it for a while and read a lot, but I think I disagree with how the authors define information in the last chapter(s).
Satisfactory, challenging read.
Gonna have to chew on it for a while and read a lot, but I think I disagree with how the authors define information in the last chapter(s).
Satisfactory, challenging read.
November 3, 2019
This book, even being 18 years out of date, is far beyond the comprehension of many 21st Century readers. I know I struggled. A lot.
February 22, 2020
鈥淏iologically-based epistemology鈥� for consciousness
January 5, 2022
This type of book makes you more selective in what you believe about the mind. The evolution of the brain can never be surpassed.
October 5, 2019
"The dynamic core" 盲r en mycket v盲l underbyggd f枚rklarande hypotes om hur metvetandet kan f枚rklaras utifr氓n det vi vet om hj盲rnan 盲n s氓 l盲nge. M枚jligtvis inte den mest l盲ttl盲sta bok jag l盲st.
June 1, 2021
debunks free will. This book really goes into how consciousness has been found to really be synchronous, distributed neuronal firing between like 20 and 60 nanometres of wavelength. That's the definition of consciousness. It's similar to how RAM in a computer behaves and your long-term memory, your hippocampus in the brain is just like a hard drive in a computer.
The point is, we are just the same as computers so when you learn about consciousness - it is really just booting up and it is synchronous and tying into all your perceptual categorizations of the world and coming in through your senses as well as your motivational systems, your emotional systems and your behavioural systems etc
The point is, we are just the same as computers so when you learn about consciousness - it is really just booting up and it is synchronous and tying into all your perceptual categorizations of the world and coming in through your senses as well as your motivational systems, your emotional systems and your behavioural systems etc
January 6, 2014
This book seeks to explain what causes consciousness in the brain. The authors describe this as not taking place in one specific part of the brain but relying on many different neuronal groups of the brain interacting and the necessary reentry that must occur between the neurons. The book discusses the connections made between synapses that allow humans to learn and therefore complete activities more quickly once they are learned. Different and more numerous parts of the brain are used when learning something than when simply doing a previously learned activity. This was a challenging read but interesting all the same.
May 28, 2015
This is an extremely dense read containing many concepts that might require several iterations before becoming fully comprehensible. However, the book is fascinating and exercises good scientific judgment while navigating one of the greatest mysteries of our time.
June 6, 2013
Fluent and concise, logical and well-supported ideas about the brain structure underlying conciousness.
April 13, 2015
A little bit too technical for me but you never know until you try.
January 19, 2016
Libro interessante, per quanto un po' ostico
April 28, 2017
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
April 6, 2017
I was very excited to read this book. There were interesting ideas in it but it was hard to read through and finish to the end. I understand that the topic matter itself is of a technical nature (when presenting any full scale theories) and perhaps it was intended for a more technical audience, but I really struggled to get through it.
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