Perspectives on Consciousness: Inquiries into Subjective Experience Across Disciplines

A scientific exploration of consciousness through the lens of subjective experience by leading interdisciplinary scholars.

This volume brings together international scholars from neuroscience, mathematics, physics, neurophenomenology, psychology, cognitive sciences, philosophy, and the study of Indian and Buddhist contemplative traditions.

The book explores fundamental questions such as: Is subjective experience crucial to understanding consciousness and in what ways? What is the significance of first-person perspectives, and how should they be integrated into scientific practices and methods? How do modern physics and neuroscience contribute to the quest for understanding consciousness? What are the ethical and political implications of the science of consciousness? Which practices assist the practitioner entering into altered states of consciousness, and what are the related benefits? What can the study of experience contribute to the study of consciousness? Can personal attitudes and reflections have a positive effect on the science of consciousness?

Almost all the contributions result from shared experiences, explored by participants in at least one of two consecutive workshops, where scientific discourse was integrated with experiential sessions.

Aviva Berkovich Ohana is Professor of Neuroscience and head of the Integrative Psychotherapy Program in the School of Therapy, Counseling and Human Development at the Education Faculty, University of Haifa, Israel.

Or Raphael is a physicist and renewable energy engineer, with over 15 years of experience in meditative practices. He is currently working as an environmental entrepreneur and science writer.

Eviatar Shulman is Chair of the Department of Comparative Religion and member of the Department of Asian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.

David Rudrauf is a professor of cognitive science at the University Paris-Saclay, France.

Idan Segev is a professor of computational neuroscience at the Hebrew University of Jeruslaem, Israel, and a chief editor of the open-access journal Frontiers in Neuroscience since its inauguration in 2007.