From Brains to Consciousness? Essays on the New Sciences of the Mind

Rating:
Summary: Good.
Review: This is a grat book because it is multidiciplinary, but maybe content wise, it is not very original-nor focused in consciousness. There are papers dealing with squitzofrenia and ageing. Greenfield contribution presents her neuronal assemblie theory. Rose writes a great introduction to consciousness studies, and it alone pays for the entrance ticket. It is always interesting to read about Aleksanders work on artificial consciousness, and Penrose on Quantum Consciousness. The collection as a whole covers many topics, and it is a valuable contribution to consciousness studies. It is also not at all technical, so it can serve as an introductory work of the field. Again, originality and content do will not live to many expectations, but I certialy recomend the book.

Rating:
Summary: A very important work
Review: While every section of science studies brain, mind, culture and psychopathology on its own grounds, this collection of essays shows how all disciplines together can shed light on each other's field of interest and solve some tough question. When I purchased this book I was looking for a reflection of mr. Rose's ideology of science, which it turned out not to be. Nonetheless, it is very relevant and quite interesting!
(I later found more of mr. Rose's thoughts in a book he edited with a Hillary Rose - his wife? - called "Alas Poor Darwin". It shows the untenability of Evolutionary Psychology. His own article in that collection is by far the best of all. Also, his "Not in Our Genes" with Richard Lewontin is supposed to be a reflection of his philosophy of science.)