The Conscious Mind
In Search of a Fundamental Theory
by David J. Chalmers · first published 1996
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The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory is an extended study of the problem of consciousness. After setting up the problem, David Chalmers argues that a reductive explanation of consciousness is impossible and that if one takes consciousness seriously, one has to go beyond a strict materialist framework. In the second half of the book, Chalmers moves toward a positive theory of consciousness with fundamental laws linking the physical and the experiential in a systematic way. Finally, he uses the ideas and arguments developed earlier to defend a form of strong artificial intellige
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Well before I started learning to program, I was carefully reading David Chalmers' early magnum opus The Conscious Mind. I still find myself convinced by the argument: consciousness is a basic ontological feature of reality, the part of reality that constitutes my existence. I am horrified that we're taking that Cartesian…
on “The Simulated World According to David Chalmers” ↗…for some reason I can't quite put my finger on. I could probably keep tying titles all day, so I'll stop with those that first popped into my head. Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics David Chalmers, The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory Gottlob Frege, Die Grundlagen der Arithmetik Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding J.S. Mill, On Liberty John Rawls, A…
on “Ask HN: Best Philosophical Books?” ↗Pretty wild to me that David Chalmers' The Conscious Mind isn't included on this list.
on “The Best Books on the Philosophy of Mind” ↗Have you read any of David Chalmers' work? He attempts to provide a framework for thinking analytically about qualia in "The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory." [1] Nearly all of his papers are accessible via his website. [2] [1] http://consc.net/books/tcm/ [2] http://consc.net/papers.html
on “Daniel Dennett, Author of ‘Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking’” ↗…collections of short stories by Thomas Ligotti. My favorite non-fiction books are books about consciousness studies and related issues. Favorites include Hofsteder's I Am A Strage Loop and David Chalmers The Conscious Mind. Oliver Sacks Musicaphilia is another recent favorite.
on “Ask YC: What is/are your favorite book(s)?” ↗…our mindless machines are showing signs of human-like behavior. Join us for a provocative discussion with some big (human) thinkers, including philosopher and cognitive scientist David Chalmers (The Conscious Mind, Reality +), best-selling science writer Steven Johnson (Extra Life, Where Good Ideas Come from, How We Got to Now) and Betaworks founder and CEO John Borthwick. Moderated by Next Big Idea co-founder…
on “AI Meets Virtual Worlds – Panel Discussion 6/28 NYC at Betaworks” ↗