Philosophy and the Brain (O P U S)

This book describes the relevance of biological discovery to philosophical topics such as perception, freedom, determinism, and ethical values and, in turn, relates the significance of philosophical concepts to work taking place in biology and the neurosciences. The author uses clear-cut language to describe the brain and its functions, and links this information to questions concerning physical makeup versus "real" self, the awareness of our moral sense, and how human consciousness differs from that of animals. He demonstrates that perception is not a passive process but an active search for information, and offers an intriguing theory concerning the purpose of human knowledge. In addition to general readers, the book will be of special interest to students of philosophy, neuroscience, psychology, and physiology.