The Evolution of Consciousness

by Euan Macphail

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Author: Euan Macphail

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Paperback:
ISBN 10: 0198503245
ISBN 13: 978-0198503248

Are non-human animals conscious? When do babies begin to feel pain? What function is served by consciousness? What evidence could resolve these issues? In The Evolution of Consciousness, psychologist Euan Macphail tackles these questions and more by exploring such topics as: animal cognition; unconscious learning and perception in humans; infantile amnesia; theory of mind in primates; and the nature of pleasure and pain. Experimental results are placed in theoretical context by tracing the development of concepts of consciousness in animals and humans. Written in an accessible style, this book will be of interest to students and professionals in psychology, philosophy, and linguistics, as well as all those interested in the nature of consciousness.

Review

"This is the best scientific monograph that I have read in a long time. . . . Macphail . . . distinguish[es] between two forms of human consciousness, namely 'self-consciousness' and 'feeling-consciousness'. The former reflects the fact that humans can distinguish their own selves from other selves, and that 'we know that we know things'. The latter includes such feelings as love, pleasure and pain. . . . This book is an intellectual tour de force. In effect it is more about consciousness than about evolution. If consciousness is indeed linked to language, then we would have to study the evolution of language, and that is still very much a mystery. This is an extremely clear and well-written, well-argued volume. This book deals with some of the big mysteries in biology, psychology and philosophy. Anyone interested in these issues should rush to the bookshop to get a copy. . . . I am certain that you will enjoy reading this book."--Trends in Cognitive Sciences

"If human limbs and organs have their parallels in animals, and their development can be traced through our animal ancestors, so also the conscious mind must have evolved. But it is not that simple, as Euan Macphail demonstrates in this accessible discussion of the subject. Macphail distinguishes between 'self-consciousness' (concerned with knowledge) and 'feeling consciousness'. He says that a complete account of human consciousness would include both, but he regards feeling consciousness as the more fundamental, and the one that most people would attribute to at least some animals. . . . In the closing pages, Macphail speculates 'that a self is a prerequisite of any conscious experience' . . . He is aware that this might lead to unwelcome implications, such as justifying the maltreatment of animals and infants on the grounds that they do not feel. It would be a shame if such fears prevented this sensitive book from being taken seriously."--The Times Higher Education Supplement

"MacPhail has been a systematic sleuth among the empirical observations in numerous areas, and now has given us a book that delightfully challenges some `commonsense' notions....He is accurate and as at home with philosophical discourse as in dissecting empirical data....A thoughtful, stimulating work which calls for thinking differently about an old issue."--Psychological Reports

"According to the title of this book, its author intends to deal not only with 'consciousness' but also 'evolution'. Obviously this is a very ambitious goal. However, a book whose title proposes to unite two broad themes inevitably runs a dual risk, namely, on the one hand, being superficial throughout or, on the other hand, being onesided and thus incomplete. Euan Macphail has solved this problem masterfully. The coverage in just eight chapters is remarkably exhaustive. Furthermore, the chapters are well linked, didactically clear, and in each case diligently introduced. . . . In conclusion, the author has done an admirable job of providing a truly interdisciplinary perspective. Macphail's book stimulates the dialogue between Philosophy, Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience and this is by all means a worthwhile enterprise."--Swiss Journal of Psychology

". . .this book represents precisely those aspects of mainstream psychological research that sociocultural theory and research define themselves against. . .Yet in taking up the topic of consciousness, MacPhail comes to a very Vygotskain conclusion, that emergence of language is coincident ontogenetically and phylogenetically with the emergence of a new form of thought, which MacPhail calls consciousness. . .MacPhail's analysis not only leads up to greater clarity in thinking about what consciousness might be, but it also creates new respect for all we are able to do without the taint of consciousness. After all, we could be as smart as a goldfish without even thinking about it. And if MacPhail is right, that is not such a stupid thing."--Mind, Culture, and Activity

"The British psychologist Euan MacPhail speculates on animal consciousness, but the conclusions are as profound for human consciousness. Macphail starts out by reviewing theories of mind from ancient times till last century The rest of the book is an intriguing speculation on the origins of consciousness and a clever proof that animals are not conscious. Macphail's skills as a writer are impressive. He unveils the solution of the puzzle like a mystery writer who is searching for a 'whodunit'. His logical proof takes slowly, shape chapter after chapter, like the lengthy demonstration of a mathematical theorem. What rests to be explain is what causes infants to diverge from other animals. Ultimately, Macphail postulates that the answer lies in our ability to learn languages. There is something in our genetic repertory that sets in motion the process to learn languages." -- Piero Scaruffi, Thymos.com

About the Author

Dr Euan Macphail, Dept of Psychology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO1 5DD. Tel: 01904 433147, Fax: 01904 433181, Email: emm1@york.ac.uk

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The Evolution of Consciousness