The Evolution of Consciousness
Representing the Present Moment
1st Edition
Published on 4. November 2021
256 pages
978-1-350-16679-0 (ISBN)
Description
The Evolution of Consciousness brings together interdisciplinary insights from philosophy, neuroscience, psychology and cognitive science to explain consciousness in terms of the biological function that grounds it in the physical world.
Drawing on the novel analogy of a house of cards, Paula Droege pieces together various conceptual questions and shows how they rest on each other to form a coherent, structured argument. She asserts that the mind is composed of unconscious sensory and cognitive representations, which become conscious when they are selected and coordinated into a representation of the present moment. This temporal representation theory deftly bridges the gap between mind and body by highlighting that physical systems are conscious when they can respond flexibly to actions in the present. With examples from evolution, animal cognition, introspection and the free will debate, this is a compelling and animated account of the possible explanations of consciousness, offering answers to the conceptual question of how consciousness can be considered a cognitive process.
Drawing on the novel analogy of a house of cards, Paula Droege pieces together various conceptual questions and shows how they rest on each other to form a coherent, structured argument. She asserts that the mind is composed of unconscious sensory and cognitive representations, which become conscious when they are selected and coordinated into a representation of the present moment. This temporal representation theory deftly bridges the gap between mind and body by highlighting that physical systems are conscious when they can respond flexibly to actions in the present. With examples from evolution, animal cognition, introspection and the free will debate, this is a compelling and animated account of the possible explanations of consciousness, offering answers to the conceptual question of how consciousness can be considered a cognitive process.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-1-350-16679-0 (9781350166790)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
06/2023
Bloomsbury Academic
€55.89
Shipment within 15-20 days
Book
12/2021
Bloomsbury Academic
€133.70
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Paula Droege is Teaching Professor in the Philosophy Department at Pennsylvania State University, USA.
Content
Introduction: A House of Cards
1. In Defense of Function
2. Ants Go Marching
3. The Power of Now
4. Beyond Analogy
5. Extending Consciousness in Time
6. How Free Are We?
7. What Next?
Bibliography
Index
1. In Defense of Function
2. Ants Go Marching
3. The Power of Now
4. Beyond Analogy
5. Extending Consciousness in Time
6. How Free Are We?
7. What Next?
Bibliography
Index
