Ian Stewart, Jack Cohen

Figments of Reality

The Evolution of the Curious Mind

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

An exploration of how mind, language, culture and intellect have evolved, providing new insights into science and humanity. "One of the most heartening and innovative books of the year." John Cornwell "The Sunday Times".

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Is the universe around us a figment of our imagination? Or are our minds figments of reality? In this refreshing new look at the evolution of mind and culture, bestselling authors Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen eloquently argue that our minds necessarily evolved inextricably within the context of culture and language. They go beyond conventional reductionist ideas to look at how the mind is the response of an evolving brain trying to grapple with a complex environment. Along the way they develop new and intriguing insights into the nature of evolution, science and humanity.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Cambridge University Press
• Seitenzahl: 340
• Erscheinungstermin: 27. Februar 2009
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 229mm x 152mm x 20mm
• Gewicht: 558g
• ISBN-13: 9780521663830
• ISBN-10: 0521663830
• Artikelnr.: 21921913

Inhaltsangabe

Preface; Prologue; 1. The origins of life; 2. The reductionist nightmare; 3. Ant country; 4. Winning ways; 5. Universals and parochials; 6. Neural nests; 7. Features great and small; 8. What is it like to be a human?; 9. We wanted to have a chapter on free will, but we decided not to, so here it is; 10. Extelligence; 11. Simplex, complex, multiplex; Epilogue; Notes; Further reading; Index.

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Preface
Prologue
1. The origins of life
2. The reductionist nightmare
3. Ant country
4. Winning ways
5. Universals and parochials
6. Neural nests
7. Features great and small
8. What is it like to be a human?
9. We wanted to have a chapter on free will, but we decided not to, so here it is
10. Extelligence
11. Simplex, complex, multiplex
Epilogue
Notes
Further reading
Index.

Rezensionen

Review of the hardback: 'One of the most heartening and innovative books of the year.' John Cornwell, The Sunday Times '[A] provocative, ambitious and enjoyable attempt to ask and answer some of the most interesting Big Questions of modern science and philosophy.' New Scientist