Natural Fabrications [electronic resource] : Science, Emergence and Consciousness /
Seager, William.author.
The spectacular success of the scientific enterprise over the last four hundred years has led to the promise of an all encompassing vision of the natural world. In this elegant picture, everything we observe is based upon just a few fundamental processes and entities. The almost infinite variety and complexity of the world is thus the product of emergence. But the concept of emergence is fraught with controversy and confusion. This book ponders the question of how emergence should be understood within the scientific picture, and whether a complete vision of the world can be attained that includes consciousness.
Description based upon print version of record.
Includes bibliographical references.
The Scientific Picture of the World -- Looking Out -- Looking In -- Consciousness in the Brain -- Emergence and Consciousness -- Emergence and Cellular Automata -- Against Radical Emergence -- Emergence and Supervenience -- Generalized Epiphenomenalism -- The Paradox of Consciousness -- Embracing the Mystery.
The spectacular success of the scientific enterprise over the last four hundred years has led to the promise of an all encompassing vision of the natural world. In this elegant picture, everything we observe is based upon just a few fundamental processes and entities. The almost infinite variety and complexity of the world is thus the product of emergence. But the concept of emergence is fraught with controversy and confusion. This book ponders the question of how emergence should be understood within the scientific picture, and whether a complete vision of the world can be attained that includes consciousness.
Statistical physics.
Dynamical systems.
Philosophy of mind.
Neurobiology.
Neuropsychology.
Complex Systems.
Philosophy of Mind.
Neurobiology.
Neuropsychology.
Statistical Physics and Dynamical Systems.