Origins of mind

Origins of mind

By Liz Stillwaggon Swan

Book Description

How did consciousness emerge from the biological world, and what does this reveal about the nature of mind itself? "Origins of Mind" brings together leading researchers from biology, cognitive science, and medicine to explore one of existence's most profound mysteries.

This comprehensive exploration examines mindedness as a natural phenomenon that evolved through biological processes, tracing the development from simple organisms to the complex consciousness that characterizes human experience. Rather than treating mind as separate from nature, the contributors present a unified vision where even language and human awareness emerge from the same fundamental life processes that govern all living systems.

The book offers a multidisciplinary approach that bridges scientific research with philosophical inquiry. Readers will discover how biosemiotics provides fresh insights into the continuity between all forms of life, revealing the sign processes that connect the simplest biological functions to the sophisticated mental representations that shape human society and culture.

Divided into five focused sections, the work addresses biosemiotic theories of mind, the evolution of mental representation, various aspects of consciousness development, philosophical challenges, and simulation approaches to understanding intelligence. Each section contributes to a naturalistic understanding of how mindedness arose and developed through evolutionary processes.

For those seeking to understand their place in the larger tapestry of life, this scholarly yet accessible volume illuminates the biological foundations of consciousness while honoring the remarkable complexity of human awareness.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Long (> 400 pages) (~12 hours)

📄 Length: 419 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Computer simulation
  • ✓ Explore timeless philosophical wisdom
  • ✓ Explore Evolution
  • ✓ Explore Biology
  • ✓ Explore Brain
  • ✓ Explore Life sciences
  • ✓ Explore Life Sciences, general
  • ✓ Explore Semiotics

Topics Covered

Computer simulation Philosophy Evolution Biology Brain Life sciences Life Sciences, general Semiotics Applied Psychology Physiology Brain, evolution Cognition Philosophy of mind Human evolution Philosophy of nature Perception Cognitive neuroscience Biology, philosophy Intellect Psychobiology Simulation and Modeling Consciousness Anthropology

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