Michael Pollan Explores Consciousness in New Book
Science journalist Michael Pollan released *A World Appears*, tackling the question "What is consciousness?" and discussing the latest research into the nature of awareness and its implications for understanding the human mind. The book, featured in a recent NPR interview, represents Pollan's continued exploration of neuroscience and psychology following his work on the science of psychedelics. The release makes it a top pick for readers interested in the intersection of science and philosophy.
- The book argues against the metaphor of the brain as a computer, a concept tracing back to neuroscientist Charles Scott Sherrington's depiction of the brain as an "enchanted loom" over 80 years ago. - Pollan explores non-human consciousness, including the work of "plant neurobiologists" who, despite plants lacking neurons, study their sentience and ability to make decisions. - A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the role of feelings and emotions in consciousness, which scientists have located in the brainstem, a primitive part of the brain also present in other species. - The book delves into the efforts of computer scientists and neuroscientists to create a conscious AI by programming it with feelings and desires like hunger and thirst. - Pollan draws inspiration from the philosopher and psychologist William James, who focused on the subjective and ever-changing nature of the human mind. - The book addresses the "hard problem" of consciousness, the question of why we have subjective experiences, and examines theories like panpsychism, which suggests consciousness is a fundamental feature of the universe. - He discusses the views of some in Silicon Valley who believe AI can be conscious, based on the premise that the brain is a "meat-based computer," a view Pollan himself rejects. - The inquiry for the book was sparked by Pollan's experiences with psychedelics, which made him perceive the plants around him as sentient beings with their own agency and viewpoints.
