Consciousness: An Enquiry into the Metaphysics of the Self [Paperback]

Hane Htut Maung (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 2007

The phenomenon of consciousness is something that is intimate to all of us, for it is the crux of our subjective being. Most of us have, at some point, pondered its nature and existence. This book provides a philosophical analysis of the mind-body problem and the nature of consciousness. In the face of contemporary dogma, it argues against physicalism, and instead proposes a position called idealistic dualism, which acknowledges consciousness for what it is: our very existence.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

'In his new book on consciousness, Hane Maung addresses some of the deepest issues in the philosophy of mind. When we form beliefs about the outside world, we always run the risk of error. Things could seem one way but be another way, as illusions and hallucinations illustrate. By contrast, when it comes to the way things seem we are apparently secure: it is for example very difficult to see how someone could be mistaken in thinking they are having a sensory experience. But this still leaves two deep mysteries. The first is the relation between subjective experience and physical brain. On the one hand, to say that the experiences are not physical is spooky; on the other, to say that they are physical states of the brain is difficult to grasp. The second mystery concerns not the nature of thought, but the nature of the thinker. For even though our experiences seem immediately available to us, the nature of the thinker is stubbornly elusive. As the great 18th century Scottish philosopher David Hume observed, every time he tried to direct his inward gaze towards himself, he just bumped into one of his thoughts instead. Maung is squaring up to this challenge, exploring the nature of the self and its bearing on many other topics, including our knowledge of the external world, our free will, and the question of our mortality. These topics are riveting, and Maung's discussion is honest, clear and engaging.'

--Peter Lipton
Hans Rausing Professor of the History and Philosophy of Science
University of Cambridge

Product Details

• Paperback: 162 pages
• Publisher: Lulu Press (February 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1847287581
• ISBN-13: 978-1847287588
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,807,594 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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