1: Stances towards the problem of consciousness
2: The illusory narrative of consciousness
3: Where science and consciousness meet
4: Intentionality
5: Reality and illusion
6: Enter qualia
7: A survival value for consciousness?
8: Creeping up on the hard problem
9: Epiphenomenalism revisited
10: Scrutinising functionalism
11: From Cartesian theatre to global workspace
12: The global neuronal workspace
13: The neural correlate of consciousness
14: Bottom-up vs top-down processing
15: Egocentric space and the parietal lobes
16: Taking physics seriously
17: Consciousness of self: the point of view
18: The bodily senses
19: Responsibility
20: Overview
In 1983, Jeffrey Gray received the Presidents'
Award of the British Psychological Society. He has given the Lister
Lecture to the British Association for the Advancement of Science
(1967), the Myers Lecture to the British Psychological Society
(1977), the Donald Hebb Lecture at McGill University, Montreal
(1994), and the Kenneth Craik Lecture (1995) at St John's College,
Cambridge. He was elected a Fellow of the British Psychological
Society in 1993, President of the Experimental Psychology Society
1996-1998, and life-time Honorary Member of the Experimental
Psychology Society, 1999. He was Mary Morten Moody Visiting
Professor, VMI, Virginia USA in 1983, and Visiting Professor at the
CollPge de France, Paris, in 1999. He has received an Honorary
Doctorate from Washington and Lee University, Virginia USA, 2000,
and an Honorary Fellowship at Goldsmiths College, London
University, 2002.
`An excellent overview that touches expertly on the many biological
and psychological features underlying the consciouse
experience.'
Journal of Consciousness Studies
`In many ways the book is a tour de force, reflecting not just
Gray's sensitive understanding of and extensive research in
neuroscience, but unusually for a neuroscientist, a relatively
sophisticated understanding of the philosophical issues surrounding
consciousness as well... a fine thoughtful book. It is leading
edge, engagingly written in a way that both students and
researchers will appreciate, and forms a fitting testament to his
searching
intellectual life.'
Applied Cognitive Psychology
`A well-written, thoroughly researched investigation... a
significant piece of scholarship. Throughout, Gray presents
complicated philosophical and neurobiological issues in a logical
and coherent manner, and he clears the ground for other scientists
to propose solutions to the hard problem of consciousness. Jeffrey
Gray passed away in April 2004. This book is a testament to his
intellectual giftedness, energy, and enormous talent.'
Learning for Democracy
`... will be enjoyed by everyone interested in consciousness. Gray,
a neuropsychologist, eloquently summarizes significant experimental
results on consciousness and, more importantly, explains both how
these results interrelate and how they constrain potential theories
of consciousness. He also uses these results to build a novel,
fascinating thoery of what consciousness does and does not do.
Throughout the work Gray's accessible presentation remains
deeply respectul of psychologists, neuroscientists, and
philosopher's approaches to consciousness. In this repect, Gray's
book is an ideal work for an interdisciplinary audience.'
Psyche
`The late Professor Emeritus Jeffrey Gray is one to be remembered
well. He is known for many things, including being of the most
highly cited experimental psychologists in the UK to generating
theories of human consciousness... This book is the culmination of
Gray's long-standing quest for understanding the essential
properties of consciousness... Gray's book is well worth the read.
His coverage of models that address the hard problem of
consciousness is
reasonably complete. Gray is highly skilled at thoroughly
critiquing each model (always finding both strengths and
weaknesses). He gives the same constructive criticism to each
model, in exactly the same
measure he gives his own. His style is entirely fair-minded and
refreshing... This is an excellent book that comes at the
conclusion of the life of an outstanding member of academia. It is
a timeless addition to any library for this reason alone.'
Science and Consciousness Review
`Gray admits that reconciling a causal role for consciousness with
the completeness of physics is difficult. I would say impossible.
His book is unusual, though, in devoting considerable attention to
the question of the efficacy of consciousness. Everyone who
believes that continued research will throw light on the nature of
consciousness including those who deny its causal efficacy can
meanwhile acknowledge its supreme value and enjoy language and
science
and appreciate beauty.'
Philosophy Now
`...remarkable both for the clarity of its expositions, and for the
patience with which he explores the prospects for integrating the
hard problem into normal science.'
New Scientist
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