The Grammar Of Consciousness: An Exploration Of Tacit Knowing Tacit Knowing

Beginning from the scientist-philosopher Michael Polanyi's theory of tacit knowing and drawing upon an original model of the mind and its workings, this book develops the thesis that all consciousness is grammatically structured. Comparison is made in detail with the theories of Daniel Dennett, based on the computer analogy, and with the neuropsychological theories of Gerald Edelman. It is suggested that Moss's top-down psychological model can be integrated with Edelman's bottom-up analysis. Two final chapters explore the philosophical implications of this discussion. This book offers a new approach to the perennial problems of mind and consciousness. Beginning from the scientist-philosopher Michael Polanyi's theory of tacit knowing, and drawing upon a remarkably original model of the mind and its workings. Edward Moss develops a new theory of tacit integration as a grammatical process. He argues that there are underlying rules of grammatical structure which apply to perception and thought as well as language; and that these are in effect the rules of the structuring of all conscious awareness. This approach to the problem is developed further through a detailed examination of the theories of Daniel Dennett, based on the computer analogy, and the neurophysiological theories of Gerald Edelman. The significant conclusion is reached that it should be possible to combine the top-down psychological model of mind proposed in the earlier chapters of the book with the bottom-up neurophysiological analysis of Edelman Beginning from the scientist-philosopher Michael Polanyi's theory of tacit knowing, and drawing upon a remarkably original model of the mind and its workings, Edward Moss develops the thesis that all consciousness is grammatically structured. Comparison is made in detail with the theories of Daniel Dennett, based on the computer analogy, and with the neurophysiological theories of Gerald Edelman. It is suggested that Moss's top-down psychological model can be integrated with Edelman's bottom-up analysis. Two final chapters explore the philosophical implications of this discussion. In two final chapters the author explores the philosophical implications of these ideas, and discusses the approaches to our knowledge of reality of Polanyi himself, Rom Harre, Richard Rorty and others Edward Moss. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 150-155) And Index.