An incisive and thought-provoking collection of philosophical literature on consciousness, featuring contemporary work in the field Consciousness is a compilation of many of the most important philosophical writings on consciousness, integrating influential scholarship from the past four decades and the work of emerging thought leaders in the field. Providing an overview of key philosophical debates within consciousness studies, this carefully balanced reader brings together classic work by seminal figures including Nagel, Lewis, Block, and Dennett, as well as innovative papers from contemporary philosophers like Schellenberg, Chalmers, and Montague.
Editors Josh Weisberg and David Rosenthal include discussions that highlight modern debates and connect consciousness to broader philosophical topics. Divided into five parts, this volume addresses problems in consciousness, consciousness and knowledge, qualitative consciousness, and theories of consciousness. A brief final section on agency and physicalism features work by Galen Strawson and an original article by Myrto Mylopoulos. Providing a picture of the philosophical landscape of consciousness studies, this stimulating reader:
- Presents a singular and eye-opening compendium of philosophical literature on consciousness
- Reflects the diversity of the field, highlighting the work of emerging thinkers and female leaders in the subject
- Introduces the major arguments about the conscious mind and the key theories that seek to explain consciousness
- Explores the theories, issues, debates, and applications of the philosophical study of consciousness that animate modern discussions
Combining new and classic material, Consciousness is an ideal reader for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in consciousness, a useful supplementary text for general classes in philosophy, and a valuable reference work for philosophers of mind, cognitive scientists, and psychologists.
About the Author: Josh Weisberg is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Houston. His work is focused on the philosophy of mind and consciousness studies. He is author of Consciousness: Key Concepts in Philosophy, an introductory book on the philosophical problem of consciousness, as well as numerous articles on a range of topics in philosophy of mind.
David Rosenthal is Professor of Philosophy at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and Coordinator of the Graduate Center's Interdisciplinary Concentration in Cognitive Science. The leading authority on higher-order theories of consciousness, Rosenthal's work focuses on philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, and cognitive science.
