Mens Sana Monogr
January 1, 2013
Avinash De Sousa
8 citations
This review examines non-neurobiological and non-cognitive theories of consciousness from fields including self-psychology, artificial intelligence, quantum physics, visual cognitive science, and philosophy. It discusses how self-psychology links the self's development to morality and empathy, how machine consciousness and robotics inform human consciousness, and how visual cortex and emotional theories contribute. The review also covers the evolution of consciousness, its emergence in fetal and neonatal life, quantum physics' insights into the mind, and neurophilosophy's role in understanding consciousness, embodiment, and its dark side. The author stresses the need to integrate these diverse theories for a holistic understanding of consciousness.
Mens Sana Monogr
January 1, 2012
Avinash De Sousa
4 citations
The article examines the Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti's views on mind and consciousness. Krishnamurti held that total awareness is essential for a free mind. He argued that people must look inward and free themselves from self-perpetuated torment, avoid repression, and live in a society where individual and societal interests align. He saw religion as a product of past conditioning and advocated for an investigative, scientific mind. Living in totality, not in segments, is necessary to achieve pleasure without difficulty. The article describes uncovering the mind layer by layer for complete growth and presents Krishnamurti's philosophy as a simple yet abstract and deep path to understanding human consciousness.
Mens Sana Monogr
January 1, 2014
The abstract poses two contrasting questions—'What explains consciousness?' and 'What consciousness explains?'—suggesting a philosophical inquiry into whether consciousness is something to be accounted for by other phenomena or whether it itself serves as an explanatory principle. The text does not provide enough content to summarize further.
Mens Sana Monogr
January 1, 2013
This commentary critically examines de Sousa's proposal for an integrative theory of consciousness, discussing its strengths and limitations within the broader philosophical discourse. It evaluates the coherence and explanatory power of the framework, highlighting areas where the theory may require further development or clarification. The commentary engages with key concepts from de Sousa's work, such as the integration of phenomenological and neuroscientific perspectives, and considers potential objections or alternative interpretations. Ultimately, it contributes to ongoing debates about the nature of consciousness and the prospects for a unified theoretical account.
Mens Sana Monogr
January 1, 2011
The Vedānta tradition offers a systematic account of consciousness, cognition, and the cognitive apparatus, distinct from Western philosophical frameworks. It posits that consciousness is not a product of the brain but the fundamental substrate of reality, with cognition and the mind serving as instruments that reflect this underlying awareness. The text explores how Vedāntic philosophy describes the relationship between the self, the mind, and the external world, emphasizing that true knowledge arises from realizing the identity of the individual self with ultimate reality. This perspective challenges materialist theories of mind by asserting that consciousness is irreducible and self-luminous.