The Emergence of Consciousness

Anthony Freeman, Editor

How does the conscious mind relate to the physical body? Two common views from the past offered the stark choice between dualism which said mind and body were quite separate, and physicalism which said that the mind was in fact 'nothing but' the physical brain. Both these views are now widely rejected. 'Emergence' theory now offers a compromise: the mind 'emerges' from the physical body but the whole person, mind and body, is more than the sum of the physical parts. In The Emergence of Consciousness philosopher Robert Van Gulick gives a clear and masterly overview and comparison of the current 'emergent' and 'reductive' approaches. Other contributors discuss more detailed aspects of the subject. The editor's own chapter argues for the radical proposal that even God is an 'emergent property'. Originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Consciousness Studies (Vol.8, No.9-10, 2001).

"This book can be recommended as a starting point and guide to the various modern views on the place of consciousness in the world, and particularly to the distinction and debate between reduction and emergence." Human Nature Review

Table of Contents

• Anthony Freeman, "Editor's Introduction"
• Robert Van Gulick, "Reduction, Emergence and Other Recent Options on the Mind–Body Problem: A Philosophic Overview"
• Harry T. Hunt, "Some Perils of Quantum Consciousness: Epistemological Pan-Experientialism and the Emergence–Submergence of Consciousness"
• Natika Newton, "Emergence and the Uniqueness of Consciousness"
• Michael Silberstein, "Converging on Emergence: Consciousness, Causation and Explanation"
• Scott Hagan and Masayuki Hirafuji, "Constraints on an Emergent Formulation of Conscious Mental States"
• Todd E. Feinberg, "Why the Mind Is Not a Radically Emergent Feature of the Brain"
• Anthony Freeman, "God as an Emergent Property"
• Alwyn Scott, "We Could Be Siblings Yet: Reflections on Huston Smith’s Why Religion Matters"

· ISBN 0-907845-18-5 · Published August 2001 by Imprint Academic · Paperback · 166 pages · $29.90 ·

Order Online:

To place an order via telephone, contact us at 800-444-2419; 434-220-3300, or by e-mail at order@pdcnet.org.