Reviewed in Juice -
Leeds Student Magazine October 2003
‘A mind bending voyage
into your own brain’
I sit here writing this article and am
conscious of the fact that God may be causing me to write it. I
suppose it could equally be the devil, or a purple pony with tiny
pig’s heads for legs, but that’s something I won’t know until I
am dead. Susan Blackmore’s fascinating book about all aspects
of consciousness will have you pondering, pontificating and
postulating until you pop your clogs and find out for sure.
The book has sprung
from a series of lectures that Blackmore has carried out and contains
all the latest research in the field. There is something
exciting about the fact that Blackmore has written this in order to
come closer to her own understanding of consciousness- it is
completely fresh and open. In fact, Blackmore has made the book
so intriguing because, despite being very chunky in itself, much of
the work is left to the reader. From the outset, Blackmore
presents the topic as a puzzle, for which she is merely providing the
pieces. If you like to be presented with lists of
incontrovertible facts and satisfying, all-end-tied conclusions then
you will find this enormously frustrating. If, however, you
enjoy detective work then this ultimate mystery casebook will be
perfect.
The book has been
carefully constructed to make the complicated subject matter
palatable, with nine sections covering the important areas, and each
section split into three chapters. The book is essentially a
text-book which could be used for a taught course. The
paraphernalia associated with such books (i.e. exercise and cartoons)
that are usually insanely annoying, are actually really helpful in
providing a counterbalance to the often overwhelming profundity of the
text. There are twenty-seven profiles of philosophers ,
psychologists (including Buddha) which help to give faces and origins
to the multitudinous strands of conflicting thought. While
Blackmore is essentially informing us that it is very likely that we
are all zombies who delude ourselves into a belief of our own unique
existence, she does it in the most relaxed, friendly manner that the
self-examination she inspires is more fun than frightening.
Early on in the text she does warn that ‘studying
consciousness will change you life’, but although the moment I
realised I was a zombie was more than I’d bargained for, Blackmore
shows that living with a constant awareness of consciousness’
workings and a persistent need to understand it can feel more
authentic than turning a blind eye to existence’s mysteries.
While the messages may not always be easy to digest Blackmore clearly
revels in her pursuit of the truth behind consciousness and her open,
inquisitive style is infectious.
Along the way
Blackmore asks whether the brain contains something of a substance
other than that of the physical world, whether a machine could ever
possibly obtain this quality, what it is like to be an animal and
whether you are conscious right now. She offers an alternative
for God in the evolutionary algorithm and show the drift of current
thought, its conflicts and what it needs to progress.
Although this book doesn’t offer solid answers, it is a great tool
for opening up the mind to new interpretations and different ways of
explaining life. It is a book that should empower not only those
who are taking part in philosophy/psychology courses, but also anyone
who is really interested in answering the only questions of any
importance in life. Alternatively ask Westlife.
Joseph
Marriott
(Permission
sought - please contact me if you know whom to ask!)
