Remembered
Present: A Biological Theory of Consciousness
by Gerald M. Edelman
From Stuart Sutherland - The New York Times
Book Review
Dr. Edelman's writing is unintelligible
to many, if not most, neurophysiologists and psychologists. It could be
that his theory is so novel that it is difficult to grasp, but he makes
little effort at clarity, a duty that is incumbent on all scientists. Moreover,
until he shows how this theory explains in detail concrete examples of
behavior, it cannot be taken seriously. . . . In the absence of evidence,
his attempt to correlate different parts of the brain with different kinds
of consciousness is largely speculative. Were such evidence available,
we would still be no closer to understanding how or why consciousness has
arisen. It remains the ultimate mystery, perhaps one that will never be
solved. Maybe Dr. Edelman should have taken a hint from Wittgenstein:
'Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent.'
Synopsis
The author is attempting "to
develop a theory of brain function compatible with physics and evolution.
In previous volumes, he introduced the concepts of neuronal group selection
and reentry {in an effort} to explain the development of the nervous system
and behavior. In The Remembered Present, the author has extended
these concepts to . . . complex behaviors, especially consciousness."
Reviews
Nobel laureate Edelman (The Rockefeller
U., The Neurosciences Institute) proposes a grand theory of consciousness,
integrating findings in the neurosciences, anatomy, cell biology, and psychology
to construct a detailed model of how we become aware of our own existence.
Edelman's characterization of consciousness as biological and individual
will find opposition from those having theories of the social construction
of reality. Complex and difficult, but not arcane.
Synopsis
Written by Nobel Prize laureate Gerald M.
Edelman, this book develops a remarkable theory of consciousness that integrates
findings from the recent explosive growth of the neurosciences with current
knowledge of anatomy, cell biology, and psychology. In constructing a detailed
model of how we become aware of our own existence, Edelman provides an
outlook that may prompt a fundamental revision in the way linguists view
language, physicians classify mental disease, and philosophers look at
the mind-body problem.
|
