Soul Dust: The Magic of Consciousness - Softcover

Nicholas Humphrey

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0857388290 ISBN 13: 9780857388292

Publisher: Quercus, 2012

Synopsis

How is consciousness possible What biological purpose does it serve Why do we value it so highly In Soul Dust the psychologist Nicholas Humphrey, a leading figure in consciousness research, returns to the front-line with a startling new theory. Consciousness, he argues, is nothing less than a magical-mystery show that we stage for ourselves inside our own heads. This self-made show lights up the world for us, making us feel special and transcendent. Tightly argued, intellectually gripping and a joy to read, Soul Dust is a keenly anticipated book that provides answers to the deepest questions. It dovetails the 'hard problem of consciousness' with the matters that obsess us all - the fear of death, how life should be lived. Resting firmly on neuroscience and evolutionary theory, it is an uncompromising yet life-affirming work that never loses sight of the majesty and mystery of consciousness.

About this title

From the Back Cover

"Just as fairy dust sprinkled on the mundane world turns it to gold, soul dust converts animal flesh into the enchanted world of sensation and self-consciousness. The result is illusion, but the illusion in which we live. This challenging and original book combines scientific rigor and exquisite sensitivity to the thoughts of philosophers, poets, writers, religious thinkers, and humanists. A delightful and thought-provoking tour de force."--Simon Blackburn, author of Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy

"As protean as consciousness itself, Nicholas Humphrey culls from neuroscience, evolutionary biology, psychology, anthropology, philosophy, and poetry to create a spirited and impassioned intellectual adventure."--Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of 36 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction

"Humphrey, a theoretical psychologist at the top of his game, combines the romantic spirit of a Shelley or Keats with the razor-sharp intellect of a Sherlock Holmes. Here he brings his incisive mind to bear on one of the great riddles of science--the evolutionary origin of consciousness--and presents the best-yet solution to the supposedly insuperable problem."--V. S. Ramachandran, author of The Tell-Tale Brain: A Neuroscientist's Quest for What Makes Us Human

"Scientists sometimes stand accused of missing the magic as they reduce nature to explanations. In this surprising and poetic book, Nicholas Humphrey does the opposite: he delves into the brain and discovers that the magic is the whole point of consciousness."--Matt Ridley, author of The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature

"Soul Dust is a must-read for everyone who wonders about the mystery of consciousness. Humphrey has come as close as any scientist ever has to solving the 'hard problem.'"--Arien Mack, New School for Social Research

"Nicholas Humphrey is a gifted scientific humanist who is able to integrate an extraordinary range of work from cognitive neuroscience, literature, and philosophy in offering his answer to the questions of what consciousness is, why it was selected for, and how it both causes and solves the problems of the meaning of life. This is a provocative book from a sparkling writer."--Owen Flanagan, Duke University

About the Author

Nicholas Humphrey has held posts at Oxford and Cambridge universities, and is now emeritus professor of psychology at the London School of Economics. His many books include A History of the Mind and Seeing Red.

Edition details

• Publisher: Quercus
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0857388290
• ISBN 13: 9780857388292
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320