Consciousness as a Scientific Concept

A Philosophy of Science Perspective

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Other Sciences, Philosophy & Social Aspects, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Mind & Body
Cover of the book Consciousness as a Scientific Concept by Elizabeth Irvine, Springer Netherlands
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Elizabeth Irvine ISBN: 9789400751736
Publisher: Springer Netherlands Publication: October 13, 2012
Imprint: Springer Language: English
Author: Elizabeth Irvine
ISBN: 9789400751736
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Publication: October 13, 2012
Imprint: Springer
Language: English

The source of endless speculation and public curiosity, our scientific quest for the origins of human consciousness has expanded along with the technical capabilities of science itself and remains one of the key topics able to fire public as much as academic interest. Yet many problematic issues, identified in this important new book, remain unresolved. Focusing on a series of methodological difficulties swirling around consciousness research, the contributors to this volume suggest that ‘consciousness’ is, in fact, not a wholly viable scientific concept.  Supporting this ‘eliminativist‘ stance are assessments of the current theories and methods of consciousness science in their own terms, as well as applications of good scientific practice criteria from the philosophy of science. For example, the work identifies the central problem of the misuse of qualitative difference and dissociation paradigms, often deployed to identify measures of consciousness. It also examines the difficulties that attend the wide range of experimental protocols used to operationalise consciousness—and the implications this has on the findings of integrative approaches across behavioural and neurophysiological research. The work also explores the significant mismatch between the common intuitions about the content of consciousness, that motivate much of the current science, and the actual properties of the neural processes underlying sensory and cognitive phenomena. Even as it makes the negative eliminativist case, the strong empirical grounding in this volume also allows positive characterisations to be made about the products of the current science of consciousness, facilitating a re-identification of target phenomena and valid research questions for the mind sciences.​

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The source of endless speculation and public curiosity, our scientific quest for the origins of human consciousness has expanded along with the technical capabilities of science itself and remains one of the key topics able to fire public as much as academic interest. Yet many problematic issues, identified in this important new book, remain unresolved. Focusing on a series of methodological difficulties swirling around consciousness research, the contributors to this volume suggest that ‘consciousness’ is, in fact, not a wholly viable scientific concept.  Supporting this ‘eliminativist‘ stance are assessments of the current theories and methods of consciousness science in their own terms, as well as applications of good scientific practice criteria from the philosophy of science. For example, the work identifies the central problem of the misuse of qualitative difference and dissociation paradigms, often deployed to identify measures of consciousness. It also examines the difficulties that attend the wide range of experimental protocols used to operationalise consciousness—and the implications this has on the findings of integrative approaches across behavioural and neurophysiological research. The work also explores the significant mismatch between the common intuitions about the content of consciousness, that motivate much of the current science, and the actual properties of the neural processes underlying sensory and cognitive phenomena. Even as it makes the negative eliminativist case, the strong empirical grounding in this volume also allows positive characterisations to be made about the products of the current science of consciousness, facilitating a re-identification of target phenomena and valid research questions for the mind sciences.​

More books from Springer Netherlands

Cover of the book The Randstad: A Research and Policy Laboratory by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Inflammatory Breast Cancer: An Update by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book The Claims of Parenting by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Angiogenesis and Anti-Angiogenesis in Hematological Malignancies by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Decentralized Development in Latin America by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Analytical Transmission Electron Microscopy by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Summer Mastitis by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Interdependencies Between Fertility and Women's Labour Supply by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Hydrological Processes of the Danube River Basin by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Introduction to World Vegetation by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Transitions and Transformations in Learning and Education by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Environmental Impact Assessment by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Profit and Power by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Gender, Work, and Family in a Chinese Economic Zone by Elizabeth Irvine
Cover of the book Immunology of Gastrointestinal Disease by Elizabeth Irvine
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy