Mind, Body and Self: Perspectives on Consciousness

This book is a unique collaboration of philosophers from across the world bringing together contemporary concepts of consciousness, the Māori conception of self, as well as Indian and Buddhist concepts of self and mental states. Contemporary concepts of consciousness include higher-order consciousness and phenomenological approaches. The idea behind this volume came from an international conference on ‘Mind, Body and Self’ held at Victoria University of Wellington; organized by the Society for Philosophy and Culture. The authors herein contribute to the relationship between concepts of self, mind, and body. The wide variety of contributors from across cultural backgrounds adds to a diverse and valuable conversation on the nature of human existence and thoughts of self. This book appeals to students and researchers working in philosophy and religious studies. Introduction to Deliberations on Mind Body and Self A Brief Outline of the Arrangement by Chapters Discussion of Chapters and Arguments in More Detail Scope of the Volume Acknowledgements Contents Contributors Chapter 1: Narrative Construction of the Self and the Accuracy Problem Introduction Narratives Self-Narratives Accuracy of Self-Narratives Conclusion References Chapter 2: A Corporeal Self: New Perspectives on the Subject in the Contemporary Phenomenological Debate Husserl and Merleau-Ponty: The Centrality of the Lived Body The Body and the Self in Husserl The Body and the Self in Merleau-Ponty Consequences of an Embodied Approach: An Interdisciplinary Perspective Phenomenology and Feminism on the Embodied Consciousness The Living Body in Clinical Context Discovering the Living Body: Mindfulness Meditation and its Possible Uses Conclusions References Chapter 3: The Subject of Consciousness, Higher-Order Thought, and Bodily Representation Introduction Higher-Order Thought Theories of Consciousness Actualist HOT Theory of Consciousness Dispositionalist HOT Theory of Consciousness Self-Representational HOT Theory of Consciousness A Case Study of Hydranencephaly Perspectival-Reflexive Representationalism Perspectival-Reflexive Representational Property Bodily Perspectival-Reflexivity Protoself Process and Coreself Process Protoself Process Coreself Process Bodily Perspectival-Reflexivity and Hydranencephaly Conclusion References Chapter 4: Conscious Authorship: Empirical Models of Mental Causation Introduction Consciousness and the Quantum World John Eccles’ Dualist Interactionism The Measurement Problem and the “Consciousness Causes Collapse” Interpretation Why Are These Hypotheses Relevant? Consciousness and Free Will Conclusion References Chapter 5: Deranged Soul for Itself: Hegel’s Anthropological Account of the Mind-Body Relation in the Causes and Symptoms of Mental Illness Introduction Hegel’s Alternative Approach to Psychology Systematic Role of Spirit The Soul as Embodied Ego Derangement as a Contradiction Within the Soul–Body Unity Conclusion References Chapter 6: Subject to Subjectivity: A Conceptual Shift in the Discourse on Self Introduction Two Major Approaches to the Problem of Self Hume: The Modern Pioneer of the Debate Two Contemporary Responses to Hume’s View Searle’s Formal Feature Account of Self Zahavi’s Account of Minimal/Experiential Self From Subject to Subjectivity: A Crucial Step Concluding Remarks References Chapter 7: A Māori Perspective on Mind, Body and Self Introduction Te Timatanga—In the Beginning The “Self” in the Community Meditation as Coming from “Self” The Māori Mind A Growing Sense of Self Going Where? Conclusion References Chapter 8: The Human Personality: Embodied Materiality and Its Psycho-physical Development—A Vedānta Critique Introduction Psycho-physical Constituents of Personality Self—The Permanent Reality Behind a Psycho-physical Human Being Role of the Individualised Self Vis-a-Vis Mind on Human Personality: Vedāntic View Role of “Mind vis-á-vis Brain” on Human Personality Individual Soul—A Non-self Entity & Its Role on the Development of a Human Personality Evolution of an Individual Soul Using a Human Personality as an External Energy Tool Sustained Development of a Human Personality Human Character as a Component of Human Personality How to Build a Strong Good Character The Basis of Will-Power Consequences for Human Beings Identifying Themselves with Their Mind The Need for Control of the Mind for Sustained Development of a Human Personality Conclusion References Chapter 9: “I Celebrate Myself, and Sing Myself”: Dehātmavāda (Body as Self) in Ancient Cārvāka Materialism and Modern Science Cārvākas and Dehātmavāda Cārvākas’ Relevance in the Modern Age Conclusion References Chapter 10: Mental States and Mind: East & West Introduction Mind-Body Problems in Western Philosophy Contemporary Theories of Consciousness Identity Theory The Nature of Consciousness Referent of the Indexical Cipher “I” in Indian Philosophy The Nyāya on cognition and belief Concluding Remarks References Chapter 11: Epilogue: Silhouettes of the Conscious Mind: Are We Done with the Quest for a Fundamental Theory? Introduction Intentionality and Consciousness Subjectivity Branching Consciousness and Binding Awareness Vignettes from Psychoanalysis and Yoga Historicizing Consciousness Concluding Reflections References This book is a unique collaboration of philosophers from across the world bringing together contemporary concepts of consciousness, the Māori conception of self, as well as Indian and Buddhist concepts of self and mental states. Contemporary concepts of consciousness include higher-order consciousness and phenomenological approaches. The idea behind this volume came from an international conference on ‘Mind, Body and Self’ held at Victoria University of Wellington; organised by the Society for Philosophy and Culture. The authors herein contribute to the relationship between concepts of self, mind and body. The wide variety of contributors from across cultural backgrounds add to a diverse and valuable conversation on the nature of human existence and thoughts of self. This book appeals to students and researchers working in philosophy and religious studies.