Consciousness: Recommended readings?

[Archaeopteryx]

My first foray into philosophy of mind was not the most pleasant experience. This was probably due to the fact that I had no idea of where to start. None-the-less I remain fascinated by the mysteries of consciousness. Only this time I'd like to re-start the search for answers from a better vantage point. With that in mind, does anyone have any books they'd recommend on the topic? Preferably those that integrate work from across philosophy, neuroscience and cognitive science?

 

[essentialsaltes]

With that in mind, does anyone have any books they'd recommend on the topic? Preferably those that integrate work from across philosophy, neuroscience and cognitive science?

I recommend Daniel Dennett's Consciousness Explained. The title promises more than it delivers, but it's still fascinating from beginning to end. One of my favorite nonfiction books of all time.

 

[AlexBP]

E. F. Schumacher's A Guide for the Perplexed is an introductory book of philosophy from a perspective of religious humanism. Material about the nature of consciousness is woven in through the entire book.

And Douglas Hofstadter's Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid is tough to characterize, but everyone who reads it agrees it's brilliant.

 

[essentialsaltes]

And Douglas Hofstadter's Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid is tough to characterize, but everyone who reads it agrees it's brilliant.

I agree: it's brilliant.

And to glue Dennett and Hofstadter together, they co-edited The Mind's I, which has a lot of good, classic essays on the mind and consciousness, though older.