On Consciousness (Hardcover)

~ Ted Honderich (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

What exactly is consciousness, and what does it mean? Delving into neuroscience, philosophy, theory, and spiritualism in search of answers, as well as exploring topics such as reflective vs. affective consciousness, anti-individualism vs. union theory, and so much more, On Consciousness carefully dissects grand mysteries into bite-sized conundrums for personal contemplation. The scholarly text is intended for advanced students, yet curious lay readers can also unravel the mysteries of perception, explained as they are to the best of human understanding in On Consciousness. I think Honderich's approach both new and very interesting. It deserves the attention of both those who view conscious experience as deeply puzzling and those who see no mystery. What exactly is consciousness, and what does it mean? Delving into neuroscience, philosophy, theory, and spiritualism in search of answers, as well as exploring topics such as reflective vs. affective consciousness, anti-individualism vs. union theory, and so much more, On Consciousness carefully dissects grand mysteries into bite-sized conundrums for personal contemplation. The scholarly text is intended for advanced students, yet curious lay readers can also unravel the mysteries of perception, explained as they are to the best of human understanding in On Consciousness. I think Honderich's approach both new and very interesting. It deserves the attention of both those who view conscious experience as deeply puzzling and those who see no mystery. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Honderich made a new proposal . . . a very promising new turn for philosophical studies of consciousness." --Journal of Consciousness Studies

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press; 1 edition (September 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822942453
• ISBN-13: 978-0822942450
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,471,158 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the worst philosophy book in print, December 21, 2007

By	G. M. Arnold "Geoff, that is" (Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A great controversy has sprung up concerning Colin McGinn's "worst ever review" of Honderich's book. The two protagonists have issued charge and counter-charge, both personal and professional, and the philosophical blogosphere has weighed in with opinions ranging from "unprofessional" to "right on the money" (not forgetting "great fun to read").

It so happens that I have a small contribution to make on this subject. Back in the spring of 2005 I was attending Dan Dennett's Philosophy of Mind course at Tufts, and inevitably I had to write a term paper.1 We were free to use any (relevant!) book or article as the starting-point for the paper, and... I decided to work with Honderich's "On Consciousness"...

Within a couple of days I knew that I was in trouble. The more I read and re-read the book, the more it seemed to be no more than a sustained argument from personal incredulity. Honderich repeatedly declared that certain propositions were "unswallowable", as if this constituted a knock-down argument. I checked in with Dan and told him that instead of identifying, expounding, and critiquing Honderich's thesis, I would only be able to address the fatal weaknesses in one of his core motivations. And so I did. It wasn't a great paper, but I felt that it was a reasonable effort given my unfortunate choice of material.

As I wrote:
Beyond his unshakeable belief that functionalism is unbelievable, Honderich offers no argument. Indeed he acknowledges that "it is not easy to construct an argument against strict functionalism", and that is is perhaps impossible to find a premise more secure than his inescapable conviction. In a note, he acknowledges that his objection can be said to beg the question. Nevertheless he argues that this "shows that there is a role in inquiry for something other than arguments."

Something other than arguments? Not, apparently, if you want to be taken seriously in Philosophical Review.

5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Carefully dissects grand mysteries into bitesized conundrums, November 10, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Written by the Grote Professor of the Philosophy of Mind and Logic at University College London, Ted Honderich, On Consciousness strives to answer the perplexing dilemma: what exactly is consciousness, and what does it mean? Delving into neuroscience, philosophy, theory, and spiritualism in search of answers, as well as exploring topics such as reflective vs. affective consciousness, anti-individualism vs. union theory, and so much more, On Consciousness carefully dissects grand mysteries into bite-sized conundrums for personal contemplation. The scholarly text is intended for advanced students, yet curious lay readers can also unravel the mysteries of perception, explained as they are to the best of human understanding in On Consciousness.