Consciousness
An Introduction
📘 About This Book
Now in its fourth edition, this highly popular text is the definitive introduction to consciousness, exploring the key theories and evidence in consciousness studies ranging from neuroscience and psychology to quantum theories and philosophy. Written by mother and daughter author team Susan Blackmore and Emily Troscianko, the book examines why the term ‘consciousness’ has no recognised definition. It also provides an opportunity to delve into personal intuitions about the self, mind, and consciousness. Featuring comprehensive coverage of all core topics in the field, the book explains why the problem of consciousness is so hard. Theories of attention and free will, altered states of consciousness, and the differences between conscious and unconscious are all explored. Written with students of psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy in mind, this edition has been thoroughly updated throughout, and includes expanded coverage of panpsychism, illusionism, predictive processing, adversarial collaboration, psychedelics, and AI. Complete with key concept boxes, profiles of well-known thinkers, and questions and activities designed for both independent study and group work, Consciousness provides a complete introduction to this fascinating field, and is essential reading for students of psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience.
📖 Summary
Consciousness, now in its expansive fourth edition, stands as a definitive introduction to the fascinating and elusive field of consciousness studies. Authored by the mother and daughter team of Susan Blackmore and Emily Troscianko, this monumental text spans over one thousand pages of rich, comprehensive exploration into why the mind experiences subjective reality. The book immediately confronts the reader with a fundamental paradox: despite its ubiquity in human experience, the term consciousness still lacks a universally recognized definition. This ambiguity sets the stage for a sweeping journey across multiple academic disciplines, seamlessly weaving together insights from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, quantum theories, and philosophy. One of the central aims of the text is to examine why the problem of consciousness is so notoriously difficult, often referred to in philosophy as the hard problem. Why should physical processing in the brain give rise to internal, qualitative feelings at all? To tackle this massive question, the authors guide readers through a rigorous examination of the core theories and empirical evidence currently shaping the field. Readers are encouraged to probe their own personal intuitions regarding the self, the mind, and the nature of conscious awareness. The text thoroughly investigates theories of attention and free will, questioning how much control our conscious minds actually exert over our actions versus unconscious automated processes. Furthermore, the book explores the vast spectrum of human experience by examining altered states of consciousness, whether induced by meditation, substances, or neurological conditions, and carefully delineates the operational differences between conscious and unconscious mental states. Designed with students in mind, the fourth edition balances academic rigor with an engaging, accessible approach that invites active participation in the debate. By juxtaposing hard scientific data with deep philosophical inquiry, Blackmore and Troscianko provide an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to understand the current landscape of mind and brain sciences, ultimately leaving the reader with a profound appreciation of the complexities inherent in studying the subjective self.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Comprehensive coverage of core topics in consciousness studies
Integrates multiple disciplines including neuroscience and philosophy
Engagingly explores personal intuitions about the self
Thoroughly updated for its fourth edition
⚠️ Cons
The sheer length of over one thousand pages may intimidate casual readers
Does not provide a single definitive answer to the nature of consciousness
❓ FAQ
Who wrote the fourth edition of Consciousness? +
The book was written by the mother and daughter author team Susan Blackmore and Emily Troscianko.
What academic fields are covered in the text? +
The text covers neuroscience, psychology, quantum theories, and philosophy.
Why is consciousness considered a difficult problem? +
It is hard to explain why and how physical brain processes give rise to subjective, qualitative internal experiences.
Does the book explore free will? +
Yes, the book explores theories of attention and free will, examining the boundary between conscious and unconscious actions.
Who is the primary audience for this book? +
The book is written with students and academics in mind as a definitive introductory text.
