Soul dust : the magic of consciousness / Nicholas Humphrey.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A radically new view of the nature and purpose of consciousness

How is consciousness possible? What biological purpose does it serve? And why do we value it so highly? In Soul Dust , the psychologist Nicholas Humphrey, a leading figure in consciousness research, proposes a startling new theory. Consciousness, he argues, is nothing less than a magical-mystery show that we stage for ourselves inside our own heads. This self-made show lights up the world for us and makes us feel special and transcendent. Thus consciousness paves the way for spirituality, and allows us, as human beings, to reap the rewards, and anxieties, of living in what Humphrey calls the "soul niche."

Tightly argued, intellectually gripping, and a joy to read, Soul Dust provides answers to the deepest questions. It shows how the problem of consciousness merges with questions that obsess us all--how life should be lived and the fear of death. Resting firmly on neuroscience and evolutionary theory, and drawing a wealth of insights from philosophy and literature, Soul Dust is an uncompromising yet life-affirming work--one that never loses sight of the majesty and wonder of consciousness.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Invitation (p. ix)
• Prelude
• Chapter 1 Coming-to Explained (p. 3)
• Part One
• Chapter 2 Being "Like Something" (p. 27)
• Chapter 3 Sentition (p. 42)
• Chapter 4 Looping the Loop (p. 53)
• Part Two
• Chapter 5 So What? (p. 69)
• Chapter 6 Being There (p. 80)
• Chapter 7 The Enchanted World (p. 104)
• Chapter 8 So That Is Who I Am! (p. 125)
• Chapter 9 Being Number One (p. 140)
• Part Three
• Chapter 10 Entering the Soul Niche (p. 155)
• Chapter 11 Dangerous Territory (p. 165)
• Chapter 12 Cheating Death (p. 177)
• Envoi (p. 203)
• Acknowledgments (p. 215)
• Notes (p. 217)
• Index (p. 239)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Humphrey (Seeing Red), the psychologist who discovered blind sight, combines the latest research on neurology and psychology with age-old philosophical questions about the nature of perception and sensation. In answer to the quandary of how human consciousness evolved, since much of our mental activity occurs unconsciously (fight or flight; intuition; biases), he suggests that sensual pleasure and the perception of beauty add value to our lives and enhance our desire to survive. Because we externalize our perceptions ("projecting sensations onto objects") we believe that our lives have meaning. He argues that the "magical interiority of human minds" is not merely a pleasurable bonus to the business of survival but creates the foundation for human existence and our ability to "acknowledge and honor the personhood of others." Though he rejects the existence of the supernatural, Humphrey sees a "soul niche," made possible by the development of complex neurological feedback loops, as the evolutionary home of the human species. This is a fascinating affirmation of the existence of the human soul and a difficult read, but well worth the effort. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

CHOICE Review

Once again, Humphrey gives readers a provoking look at the mystery of consciousness. A follow-up to his Seeing Red: A Study in Consciousness (CH, Nov'06, 44-1813), this volume focuses on the "hard problem" of consciousness. Humphrey opens by saying that he "make[s] no apology for putting the human soul back where I am sure it belongs: at the center of consciousness." In the history of psychology, certainly, the importance of the soul/mind/self can be traced from Aristotle through Descartes through William James; the notion begins to melt away as mind gives way to brain. Humphrey's intent is not to replace science with the metaphysical; rather, he wants to bring the spiritual back into conversation with science. He reaches beyond the confines of science to find a way to understand consciousness as a part of the brain and a function of natural selection. Often poetic, Humphrey draws not only on the philosophers and neuroscientists who are central in the debates about consciousness but also cites the work of theologians, literary figures, and, yes, poets to illustrate how central the motive of transcendence is to the consciousness of the human being. Even those who disagree with Humphrey's premise or conclusions will want to read this book. Summing Up: Essential. All readers. D. M. Chirico York College CUNY