2nd Edition
Theories of Consciousness An Introduction and Assessment
Introduction 1. Consciousness & Physicalism 2. Themes from Descartes 3. Identity Theories & the Generation Problem 4. HOT Theory I: The Mentalistic Reduction of Consciousness 5. HOT Theory II: Animals, Mental Sophistication & Dispositions 6. Self-Representational Theories7. Dennett I: Qualia Eliminated 8. Dennett II: Consciousness Fictionalized 9. Consciousness & Attention10. Representational Theories of Consciousness I 11. Representational Theories of Consciousness II 12. Conscious Intentionality & the Anti-Cartesian Catastrophe 13. Consciousness, Information & Panpsychism 14. Panpsychism, Aggregation & Combinatorial Infusion 15. Monism & Models. Index
Biography
William Seager is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto, Scarborough, Canada, where he has taught for over 25 years. He is the author of Metaphysics of Consciousness (1991), and Natural Fabrications: Science, Emergence and Consciousness (2012).
'A masterfully updated second edition. Seager has once again skillfully balanced the need to provide a critical overview of standard positions with an in-depth treatment of important recent developments on panpsychism, emergence, neutral monism, and higher-order and self-representational theories of consciousness. It sets the standard for the in-depth treatment of theories of consciousness, and is essential reading for anyone interested in consciousness studies.' - Rocco J. Gennaro, University of Southern Indiana, USA
'This new edition is a substantial volume, impressive both in breadth and depth. Seager provides a thorough introduction to the maintheories and issues, as well as making a number of original contributions to the debate. It is a book which repays careful study by anyone wanting an advanced overview of the study of consciousness.' - Wayne Wu, Carnegie Mellon University, USA
Praise for the first edition:
'This is an excellent survey of recent theories of consciousness.' - Barry Loewer, Rutgers University, USA'This is a fine book, a fascinating set of discussions of an extremely interesting area.' - John Leslie, University of Guelph, Canada
