Book123

    Free register and download UseNet downloader, then you can FREE Download from UseNet.

    Download without Limit " Science/Engineering Bright Air, Brilliant Fire: On The Matter Of The Mind " from UseNet for FREE!

More

Gerald Edelman, "Bright Air, Brilliant Fire: On The Matter Of The Mind"

A Nobel laureate's revolutionary vision of how the mind works.

"More than a quarter of a century ago, Edelman was distinguished with a Nobel Price for his research on the immunity system. Later he switched to neurology. He sees a parallel between the way the immunity system is programmed and the way the brain is programmed. These procedures have much in common with Darwins process of evolution by way of natural selection. Edelman speaks of "neural Darwinism".

When you just think about it, after reading the arguments Edelman brings forward, you will see that evolution could hardly have produced something as complex as the human brain (or even more simple animal brains) by any other means. A lot has to be investigated yet, of course, but I think Edelman has shown the way to a deeper understanding of our brain.

It is a pity Edelman and Daniel Dennet get along so badly. Edelman never mentions Dennet, and Dennet is extremely critical in the few remarks he makes about Edelmans work. I think their approaches are complementary, not contradictory.

Yes, the human brain is a computer of sorts. Edelman has the clearest ideas about the structure of this computer, but he denies that the metaphor of the computer is valid. I think that, even taking Edelmans ideas about the deeper structure in account, the metaphor remains valid, up to a point at least. Really, Edelman has much more in common with Dennet (whom he seems to despise) than with the "mysterian" Searle, whom he praises." - reader's review.

Enjoy this great book! Brought to you by SMIRK

Buy Book at Lowest Price on Amazon

thank you.

RS mirror:

Rating:
2.5 out of 5 by Book123