A Dialogue on Consciousness by Torin Alter

A Dialogue on Consciousness by Torin Alter

In recent years, the problem of consciousness has developed into one of the most important and hotly contested areas in the philosophy of mind. Many philosophers regard consciousness as an entirely physical phenomenon, yet it seems to elude scientific explanation. On the other hand, viewing consciousness as a nonphysical phenomenon brings up even larger issues. If consciousness is not physical, how can it be explained? Concise, up-to-date, and engaging, A Dialogue on Consciousness explores these issues in depth. It features two main characters, Tollens and Ponens--unemployed graduate students who secretly live in a university library--who bring the debate alive. Tollens and Ponens examine the most significant theories and arguments in the field, quoting key passages from both classic and contemporary texts. Their discussion encompasses an expansive and diverse range of ideas, from those that originated in the Enlightenment up to today's most current perspectives. The dialogue concludes with a consideration of the pros and cons of modern physicalist views and nonphysicalist alternatives. An extensive annotated list of suggested readings directs readers to the most relevant and helpful primary sources. An accessible and entertaining introduction to this complex issue, Dialogue on Consciousness ideal for courses in philosophy of mind and consciousness. It also serves as an excellent supplement to introductory philosophy courses.

Alter and Howell's dialogue starts by making the basic puzzles of consciousness vivid and accessibleBy the end it has led readers through a grand tour of many of the most central issues in the area, bringing them close to the leading edge of current thought. Alter and Howell have both made significant contributions to this area themselves, so their discussion is philosophically rich. At the same time, it is a pleasure to read. * David Chalmers, Director, Centre for Consciousness, Australian National University, and author of The Conscious Mind *
A Dialogue on Consciousness is an elegant discussion of the problem of consciousness that would be appropriate for courses in the philosophy of mind and for generic introductions to philosophy. . . . Once I began reading, I was hooked. * John Heil, Washington University in St Louis and Monash University *
I plan to use A Dialogue on Consciousness in my philosophy of mind course. It will engage the students and provide an excellent overview of the main issues, the main positions on them, and the main lines of argument. * Alfred Mele, William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University *

Robert J. Howell received his Ph.D. In philosophy from Brown University in 2002. He is an Associate Professor at Southern Methodist University, and has published numerous articles on the mind-body problem, self-knowledge, and issues in epistemology. He is the co-author, with Torin Alter, of A
Dialogue on Consciousness (OUP, 2009) and The God Dialogues (OUP 2011), and has co-edited with Alter Consciousness and the Mind Body Problem: A Reader (OUP, 2011).

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780195375299
ISBN 10	0195375297
Title	A Dialogue on Consciousness
Author	Torin Alter
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Oxford University Press Inc
Year published	2009-01-22
Number of pages	128
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.