Consciousness Explained
 

Consciousness Explained

by Daniel C. Dennett

Consciousness is notoriously difficult to explain. On one hand, there are facts about conscious experience--the way clarinets sound, the way lemonade tastes--that we know subjectively, from the inside. On the other hand, such facts are not readily accommodated in the objective world described by science. How, after all, could the reediness of clarinets or the tartness of lemonade be... (read more)

Top tags: sciencephilosophypsychologyconsciousnessnon-fiction (all tags)

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Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
squirrel
  • Rated 4 stars

Wonderful writing. Even if you don't agree with him in the end, he manages to get you all excited about human nature and all research into it

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Didn’t Like It

Dan and Annette
  • Rated 2 stars

Dennett writes like a philosopher - namely, in circles. There are some interesting and thought-provoking anecdotes and theories, but overall the book is tedious and uninspiring.

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Community:
  • Rated 3.96 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 3 stars
 

Newest Comments

  • maria g

    maria g said:

    This is probably my favourite non-fiction book. It is very accessible and thoroughly convincing in placing consciousness firmly in the physical function of the brain, thus exposing the impossibility of the meta-physical.

    posted Monday, January 14 2008
  • angelicabeads

    angelicabeads said:

    My problem with Dennett's position on consciousness comes from my problem with his focus on neurophilosophy in general. I have a hard time accepting the proposition that everything in consciousness emanates from neurons, and that there is no "spiritual" consciousness that can be attributed to influences other than the neurological. But I continue to read him, because he's quite a challenge and makes one think seriously about one's belief systems.

    posted Tuesday, September 11 2007 ( | view 1 reply )
  • zenmama

    zenmama said:

    When my grandson was born with a severe brain injury which resulted in cerebral palsy, I went on a quest to understand where consciousness resides. This is a satisfying book for those seeking, if not answers, then, possibiities.

    posted Friday, September 7 2007
  • squirrel

    squirrel said:

    general evaluation

    This book is great, but in present day somewhat beside the point. The part against the cartesian theater was highly influential and important, the explanation of qualia unconvincing. Overall a book that sparks your love for neurophilosophy.

    posted Friday, January 19 2007
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