Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Gar · 05-29-2003, 06:33 PM

I'm going to college next year and considering majoring in neuroscience. Can anyone suggest any good nonfiction reading. I already have Phantoms in the Brain and I'm going to by How the Mind Works after I'm done with that. Any suggestions?

Friar Bellows · 05-29-2003, 07:02 PM

G�del, Escher and Bach by Douglas Hofstadter
Consciousness Explained by Daniel Dennett

Elvithriel · 05-29-2003, 07:12 PM

"Consciousness Explained"?

Well, that certainly sounds impressive but concidering no one has yet explained consciousness, I feel its unlikely this book will.

Friar, whats the book about.

God Fearing Atheist · 05-29-2003, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Elvithriel
"Consciousness Explained"?

Well, that certainly sounds impressive but concidering no one has yet explained consciousness, I feel its unlikely this book will.

Friar, whats the book about.

Its an interesting, but philosophically disappointing eliminitive reductionist account of consciousness. Its really just suped-up functionalism; he calls it "Multiple Drafts."

My suggestions are The Rediscovery of the Mind by John R. Searle (for some good phil of mind), Howard Gardner's "Frames of Mind" (for some interesting neuropsych stuff), and the great Arthur Jensen's "The g Factor" (for being such a damn good book).

-GFA

Elvithriel · 05-29-2003, 09:07 PM

It could be consciousness is just an illusion formed from a highly complex system. For example, prove to me that anyone is consciousness besides yourself.

Think when somebody finally gives a full explaination of consciousness he will be indanger from irate philosopheres?

Wounded King · 05-30-2003, 03:13 AM

The man who mistook his wife for a hat by Oliver Sacks

sakrilege · 05-30-2003, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wounded King
The man who mistook his wife for a hat by Oliver Sacks

Seconded*

* otherwise known as You beat me to it.

ps418 · 05-30-2003, 07:48 AM

My current recommendations are:

Nature Via Nurture : Genes, Experience, and What Makes Us Human, by Matt Ridley

And:

Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, by Stuart A. Vyse

Patrick

Gar · 05-30-2003, 08:03 PM

Thanks guys. I really apreciate it. When ever I try to decide what to major in I always feel deathly afraid that I will end up hating it and have to start over again. I'm hoping that reading up on it will give me an inkling of whether or not I would want to study neuroscience.

NearNihil Experience · 05-31-2003, 08:03 AM

Try "A View From Nowhere" by Nagel. Lots of stuff about consciousness in there.

05-29-2003, 06:33 PM	#1
Gar Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Boston, Mass Posts: 347	Nonfiction suggestions I'm going to college next year and considering majoring in neuroscience. Can anyone suggest any good nonfiction reading. I already have Phantoms in the Brain and I'm going to by How the Mind Works after I'm done with that. Any suggestions?

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05-29-2003, 07:02 PM	#2
Friar Bellows Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: arse-end of the world Posts: 2,305	G�del, Escher and Bach by Douglas Hofstadter Consciousness Explained by Daniel Dennett

05-29-2003, 07:12 PM	#3
Elvithriel Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 127	"Consciousness Explained"? Well, that certainly sounds impressive but concidering no one has yet explained consciousness, I feel its unlikely this book will. Friar, whats the book about.

05-29-2003, 09:07 PM	#5
Elvithriel Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 127	It could be consciousness is just an illusion formed from a highly complex system. For example, prove to me that anyone is consciousness besides yourself. Think when somebody finally gives a full explaination of consciousness he will be indanger from irate philosopheres?

05-30-2003, 03:13 AM	#6
Wounded King Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 1,211	The man who mistook his wife for a hat by Oliver Sacks

05-30-2003, 07:48 AM	#8
ps418 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Louisville, KY, USA Posts: 1,840	My current recommendations are: Nature Via Nurture : Genes, Experience, and What Makes Us Human, by Matt Ridley And: Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, by Stuart A. Vyse Patrick

05-30-2003, 08:03 PM	#9
Gar Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Boston, Mass Posts: 347	Thanks guys. I really apreciate it. When ever I try to decide what to major in I always feel deathly afraid that I will end up hating it and have to start over again. I'm hoping that reading up on it will give me an inkling of whether or not I would want to study neuroscience.

05-31-2003, 08:03 AM	#10
NearNihil Experience Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Up Shit Creek Posts: 1,810	Try "A View From Nowhere" by Nagel. Lots of stuff about consciousness in there.

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