Consciousness and Cognition: Fragments of Mind and Brain
By Henri Cohen, Brigitte Stemmer
Publisher: Academic Press
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: 2007-04-12
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0123737346
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780123737342
Binding: Hardcover
What were the circumstances that led to the development of our cognitive abilities from a primitive hominid to an essentially modern human? The answer to this question is of profound importance to understanding our present nature. Since the steep path of our cognitive development is the attribute that most distinguishes humans from other mammals, this is also a quest to determine human origins. This collection of outstanding scientific problems and the revelation of the many ways they can be addressed indicates the scope of the field to be explored and reveals some avenues along which research is advancing. Distinguished scientists and researchers who have advanced the discussion of the mind and brain contribute state-of-the-art presentations of their field of expertise. Chapters offer speculative and provocative views on topics such as body, culture, evolution, feelings, genetics, history, humor, knowledge, language, machines, neuroanatomy, pathology, and perception. This book will appeal to researchers and students in cognitive neuroscience, experimental psychology, cognitive science, and philosophy.
* Includes a contribution by Noam Chomsky, one of the most cited authors of our time
Summary: very hard problems
Rating: 4
The book's authors present a general treatment of its subjects, with a minimum of jargon. Think of it perhaps as akin to a Scientific American issue devoted to one topic. The material should be understandable to an educated layperson.
The subjects are all hard. At the boundaries of our understanding. And it is perhaps quite unclear as to when we will adequately reach comprehension. Artificial intelligence is one such subject. Discussed in the context of whether evolution could produce robots. But this is also used to bring in a general coverage of AI. The best efforts in AI are still rudimentary. We are far from producing a sentient gizmo that we can converse with, a la the Turing Test.
Creativity is another subject of the book. Vaguely treated. Very high level and qualitative. Which is an accurate assessment of how well we understand it.
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