Seeing Red: A Study in Consciousness (Mind/brain/behavior Initiative)

"Consciousness matters. Arguably it matters more than anything. The purpose of this book is to build towards an explanation of just what the matter is." Nicholas Humphrey begins this compelling exploration of the biggest of big questions with a challenge to the reader, and himself. What's involved in "seeing red"? What is it like for us to see someone else seeing something red? Seeing a red screen tells us a fact about something in the world. But it also creates a new fact--a sensation in each of our minds, the feeling of redness. And that's the mystery. Conventional science so far hasn't told us what conscious sensations are made of, or how we get access to them, or why we have them at all. From an evolutionary perspective, what's the point of consciousness? Humphrey offers a daring and novel solution, arguing that sensations are not things that happen to us, they are things we do--originating in our primordial ancestors' expressions of liking or disgust. Tracing the evolutionary trajectory through to human beings, he shows how this has led to sensations playing the key role in the human sense of Self. The Self, as we now know it from within, seems to have fascinating other-worldly properties. It leads us to believe in mind-body duality and the existence of a soul. And such beliefs--even if mistaken--can be highly adaptive, because they increase the value we place on our own and others' lives. "Consciousness matters," Humphrey concludes with striking paradox, "because it is its function to matter. It has been designed to create in human beings a Self whose life is worth pursuing." (20060315)

consciousness Matters. Arguably It Matters More Than Anything. The Purpose Of This Book Is To Build Towards An Explanation Of Just what The Matter Is.

nicholas Humphrey Begins This Compelling Exploration Of The Biggest Of Big Questions With A Challenge To The Reader, And Himself. What's Involved In Seeing Red? What Is It Like For Us To See Someone Else Seeing Something Red?

seeing A Red Screen Tells Us A Fact About Something In The World. But It Also Creates A New Fact—a Sensation In Each Of Our Minds, The feeling Of Redness. And That's The Mystery. Conventional Science So Far Hasn't Told Us What Conscious Sensations Are Made Of, Or How We Get Access To Them, Or Why We Have Them At All. From An Evolutionary Perspective, What's The Point Of Consciousness?

humphrey Offers A Daring And Novel Solution, Arguing That Sensations Are Not Things That Happen to Us, They Are Things We Do—originating In Our Primordial Ancestors' Expressions Of Liking Or Disgust. Tracing The Evolutionary Trajectory Through To Human Beings, He Shows How This Has Led To Sensations Playing The Key Role In The Human Sense Of Self.

the Self, As We Now Know It From Within, Seems To Have Fascinating Other-worldly Properties. It Leads Us To Believe In Mind-body Duality And The Existence Of A Soul. And Such Beliefs—even If Mistaken—can Be Highly Adaptive, Because They Increase The Value We Place On Our Own And Others' Lives.

consciousness Matters, Humphrey Concludes With Striking Paradox, Because It Is Its Function To Matter. It Has Been Designed To Create In Human Beings A Self Whose Life Is Worth Pursuing.

nancy Yang - Harvard Book Review

[seeing Red Is] A Collection Of Small And Unexpectedly Lucid Thought Experiments On A Topic That Has Universal Appeal...humphrey Provides A Refreshing Take On This Ancient Topic...one Of The Key Merits Of seeing Red Is Its Multi-disciplinary Approach To Defining Something That Has Eluded Definition For Centuries. Humphrey Draws Upon Philosophy, Art, And Psychology In Turn, Producing A Holistic Narrative That Almost Seems A Microcosm Of Human Experience. And This Is Part Of Humphrey's Particular Gift: He Demonstrates A Poetic Understanding Of The Human Psyche, Its Desires And Insecurities...[this Is] A Book That Is, Above All, Written For The Sake Of Asking Questions Rather Than Answering Them.

consciousness Matters. Arguably It Matters More Than Anything. The Purpose Of This Book Is To Build Towards An Explanation Of Just what The Matter Is.

nicholas Humphrey Begins This Compelling Exploration Of The Biggest Of Big Questions With A Challenge To The Reader, And Himself. What's Involved In Seeing Red? What Is It Like For Us To See Someone Else Seeing Something Red?

seeing A Red Screen Tells Us A Fact About Something In The World. But It Also Creates A New Fact—a Sensation In Each Of Our Minds, The feeling Of Redness. And That's The Mystery. Conventional Science So Far Hasn't Told Us What Conscious Sensations Are Made Of, Or How We Get Access To Them, Or Why We Have Them At All. From An Evolutionary Perspective, What's The Point Of Consciousness?

humphrey Offers A Daring And Novel Solution, Arguing That Sensations Are Not Things That Happen to Us, They Are Things We Do—originating In Our Primordial Ancestors' Expressions Of Liking Or Disgust. Tracing The Evolutionary Trajectory Through To Human Beings, He Shows How This Has Led To Sensations Playing The Key Role In The Human Sense Of Self.

the Self, As We Now Know It From Within, Seems To Have Fascinating Other-worldly Properties. It Leads Us To Believe In Mind-body Duality And The Existence Of A Soul. And Such Beliefs—even If Mistaken—can Be Highly Adaptive, Because They Increase The Value We Place On Our Own And Others' Lives.

consciousness Matters, Humphrey Concludes With Striking Paradox, Because It Is Its Function To Matter. It Has Been Designed To Create In Human Beings A Self Whose Life Is Worth Pursuing.

susan Blackmore - Times Higher Education Supplement

i Like Short Books. Better Still, I Like Short Books So Packed With Ideas That I Have To Stop And Think On Every Page. seeing Red Is That Sort Of Book...in seeing Red Humphrey Brings Together All His Previous Research And Theorising To Give Us A Counterintuitive And Distinctly Uncomfortable Way Of Thinking About The Nature Of Seeing...a Book That Makes Me Think So Hard, In Just 150 Pages, Is One I Must Recommend.

Consciousness matters. Arguably it matters more than anything. The purpose of this book is to build toward an explanation of just what the matter is." "Nicholas Humphrey begins this exploration of the biggest of big questions with a challenge to the reader, and himself. What's involved in "seeing red"? What is it like for us to see someone else seeing something red?" "Seeing a red screen tells us a fact about something in the world. But it also creates a new fact - a sensation in each of our minds, the feeling of redness. And that's the mystery. Conventional science so far hasn't told us what conscious sensations are made of, or how we get access to them, or why we have them at all. From an evolutionary perspective, what's the point of consciousness?" "Humphrey offers a daring and novel solution, arguing that sensations are not things that happen to us, they are things we do - originating in our primordial ancestors' expressions of liking or disgust. Tracing the evolutionary trajectory through to human beings, he shows how this has led to sensations playing the key role in the human sense of Self. The Self, as we now know it from within, seems to have fascinating other worldly properties. It leads us to believe in mind body duality and the existence of a soul. And such beliefs, even if mistaken, can be highly adaptive, because they increase the value we place on our own and other' lives. Consciousness matters, Humphrey concludes with striking paradox, because it is its function to matter. It has been designed to create in human beings a Self whose live is worth pursing." -- Book Jacket "Consciousness matters. Arguably it matters more than anything. The purpose of this book is to build towards an explanation of just what the matter is." Nicholas Humphrey begins this compelling exploration of the biggest of big questions with a challenge to the reader, and himself. What's involved in "seeing red"? What is it like for us to see someone else seeing something red? Seeing a red screen tells us a fact about something in the world. But it also creates a new fact--a sensation in each of our minds, the feeling of redness. And that's the mystery. Conventional science so far hasn't told us what conscious sensations are made of, or how we get access to them, or why we have them at all. From an evolutionary perspective, what's the point of consciousness? Humphrey offers a daring and novel solution, arguing that sensations are not things that happen to us , they are things we do --originating in our primordial ancestors' expressions of liking or disgust. Tracing the evolutionary trajectory through to human beings, he shows how this has led to sensations playing the key role in the human sense of Self. The Self, as we now know it from within, seems to have fascinating other-worldly properties. It leads us to believe in mind-body duality and the existence of a soul. And such beliefs--even if mistaken--can be highly adaptive, because they increase the value we place on our own and others' lives. "Consciousness matters," Humphrey concludes with striking paradox, "because it is its function to matter. It has been designed to create in human beings a Self whose life is worth pursuing." "Consciousness matters. Arguably it matters more than anything. The purpose of this book is to build toward an explanation of just what the matter is." "Nicholas Humphrey begins this exploration of the biggest of big questions with a challenge to the reader, and himself. What's involved in "seeing red"? What is it like for us to see someone else seeing something red?" "Seeing a red screen tells us a fact about something in the world. But it also creates a new fact - a sensation in each of our minds, the feeling of redness. And that's the mystery. Conventional science so far hasn't told us what conscious sensations are made of, or how we get access to them, or why we have them at all. From an evolutionary perspective, what's the point of consciousness?" "Humphrey offers a daring and novel solution, arguing that sensations are not things that happen to us, they are things we do - originating in our primordial ancestors' expressions of liking or disgust. Tracing the evolutionary trajectory through to human beings, he shows how this has led to sensations playing the key role in the human sense of Self. The Self, as we now know it from within, seems to have fascinating other worldly properties. It leads us to believe in mind body duality and the existence of a soul. And such beliefs, even if mistaken, can be highly adaptive, because they increase the value we place on our own and otherʼ lives. Consciousness matters, Humphrey concludes with striking paradox, because it is its function to matter. It has been designed to create in human beings a Self whose live is worth pursing."--Jacket.

Beginning with the seemingly simple act of seeing red, this brilliantly unsettling essay builds toward an explanation of why consciousness makes compelling evolutionary sense. From sensations that probably began in bodily expression to the evolutionary advantages of a conscious self, Seeing Red tracks the "hard problem" of consciousness to its source and its solution, a solution in which the very hardness of the problem may make all the difference.

Beginning with the seemingly simple act of seeing red, the fact of a conscious sensation, this book builds toward an explanation of why consciousness matters, why it makes evolutionary sense. It develops a theory of how sensations are created, suggesting that consciousness developed from the 'privatising' of sensation and experience.