A New Science of Consciousness
By Anil Seth
Dr. Anil Seth is a British Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex. (Wikipedia). http://www.anilseth.com/bio/.
Professor Seth invites the reader to delve into the intricate nature of consciousness. As an organism, you are capable of receiving sensory input, processing it, recalling memories and experiences, reasoning, processing information, and problem-solving. A hypothetical zombie version of you could perform all these functions, yet it would lack that unique quality of being you, a testament to the complexity of consciousness.
Seth embarks on a journey to explore the depths of measuring individual levels of consciousness. Despite the recent advancements in this field, the true nature of consciousness still remains a mystery, a fact that continues to pique our curiosity and drive our quest for knowledge.
One of the most compelling theories is the Integrated Information Theory. This theory states that consciousness is the phenomenon that combines all your memories, sensory information, emotions, and cognitive processes into the integrated experience of life. This is much more than putting together pieces of a puzzle. It integrates all the complex relationships between the pieces, giving a vibrant ‘experience’ of the moment.
Of course, what our consciousness presents is just its best guess as to how everything should fit together. This interpretation is constantly refined as more information arrives, but it is our best guess. Our brain arrives at this best guess by selecting the most likely scenario from all past experiences.
Our self-perception is not a static entity but a dynamic amalgamation of a diverse range of aspects that collectively shape our identity in our minds. We perceive the world through the lens of our individual history and experience, constantly evolving and adapting.
In this book, Anil Seth shares several provocative ideas, but consciousness remains elusive.
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