- Hardcover: 473 pages
- Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1st Edition edition (1 Oct 1994)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0198539789
- ISBN-13: 978-0198539780
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.7 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
441,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #35 in Books > Health, Family & Lifestyle > Psychology & Psychiatry > Specific Topics > Artificial Intelligence
- #74 in Books > Science & Nature > Education > Higher Education > Physics > Atomic & Molecular
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
The motivation for this book arose, in part, from a need for detailed replies to a number of queries and criticisms from readers of the author's previous book, The Emperor's New Mind , many of whom have gone to extraordinary lengths to avoid the conclusion that there must be something non-computational involved in thinking. Penrose searches for a means, within the constraints of the hard facts of science, whereby a scientifically describable brain might be able to perform the needed non-computational actions. He develops the argument of how quantum effects might have a fundamental relevance to consciousness and to non-computable brain action. Some of the more startling implications of this are based on new scientific information which is discussed in detail, leading to one of the most extraordinary and fundamental implications of quantum theory: quantum entanglement, the process by which the behaviour of `classically' described systems is explicable only in quantum mechanical terms. There is a thorough examination of the implications of G "odel's theorem maintaining that conscious thinking must indeed involve ingredients that cannot adequately be simulated by mere computation. No prior knowledge of quantum theory on the part of the reader is assumed. This book is intended for the general reader; physicists, computer scientists, philosophers, etc.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Penrose's book expels the myths surrounding artificial intelligence and in doing so also reveals a great deal of physics to the layman. He gives an expose of the twin pillars of modern theoretical physics, namely quantum theory and relativity and uses this scientific knowledge to justify his views on the nature of consciousness. A sequel to his previous book "The Emperor's New Mind", Penrose covers subjects as diverse as superstring theory and brain neurology, in an attempt to justify his conviction that algorithmic computers cannot truly achieve artificial intelligence or consciousness. Along the way, "Shadows of the Mind" also offers tentative suggestions for the way forward in fundamental physics and much of its contents would therefore be of interest to students of the subject.[A more pictorial approach to some of these subjects can be found for example on lulu.com/"Special Relativity: A concise guide for beginners."]
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
27 reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
General comments
27 Dec 1999
Format:Paperback
This book is a significant improvement on Penrose's previous writing of similar scope, "The Emperor's New Mind", especially that he has more specific ideas on the actual biological manifestations of the noncomputational processes he seeks as basis for consciousness. Even if one does not agree with his arguments, there is a great amount of information on physics and so on, written in a style that makes the book a pleasure to read. A previous review mentioned that many have opposed the logical arguments from the first part of the book. Penrose, however, has replied quite well to many criticisms (see PSYCHE, an electronic journal on consciousness), and I think it is premature to pass final judgement. For an alternative, not necessarily incompatible, view of consciousness I highly recommend "The Feeling of What Happens" by the distinguished neurologist Antonio R. Damasio (or at least check out his article "How the Brain Creates the Mind" in Scientific American, December 1999).
36 of 44 people found the following review helpful
A work with far reaching implications
22 May 2000
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Between the beautifully written prologue and epilogue, this book approaches a range of topics in modern physics in a unique and readable way. Through a continuation of some earlier work, Penrose furthers an argument for brain function and conciousness that many in the artificial intelligence field will not appreciate. He presents his case that the human mind will never be simulated with digital a computer, no matter how complex. But that is not his main focus of this book.
Even more facinating are his calculations which indicate how mathematically unique our existence is under the 2nd law of thermodynamics. To me, it's ultimately ironic that the physical principal which orders our universe and makes intelligent life possible (the 2nd law), is the result of an unimaginably improbable set of initial conditions. Although Penrose never invokes the concept of a creator or supreme being, in my mind, this poses an interesting challenge to those in the scientific community who claim our universe is simply the result of random particle collisions over a long period of time.
If we combine the concepts of similar structures scaling across space and time (tensegrity and fractals), with Penrose's ideas that consciousness may be associated with quantum gravity interactions in microtubules (present in all living cells), perhaps there is far more mystery and beauty to this existence than some would now believe...
This book was satisfying and throught provoking, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the mysteries of the very large and the very small.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
No other book tackles this subject so clearly
10 July 2008
Format:Paperback
Just opening this book to a random page and reading that page - sets one's mind on fire.
The basic thread running throughtout the book is that of 'what is computable and what is not'. The process of 'Understanding' as humans know it - Penrose argues - is NON-COMPUTABLE. He provides brilliant examples of how computers can 'solve' any problem - without 'understanding' what they are solving (e.g. DeepThought and the simple chess move which stumped it).
This theme in itself would make this a worthwhile read. However - this book offers further gems from Quantum Physics - with perhaps the simplest and best explanation of lesser known quantum paradoxes such as the 'delayed choice' experiments. Godel's theorem is also dealt with lucidly.
Few authors can tackle the issue of 'mind and conciousness' without stepping into some mystical/unscientific goo. Penrose stays scientific - and works from facts and well known experiments.
I do not know of any other book that tackles this subject so clearly - and in such an exciting fashion. From my perspective - this clearly deserves 5 stars.
The basic thread running throughtout the book is that of 'what is computable and what is not'. The process of 'Understanding' as humans know it - Penrose argues - is NON-COMPUTABLE. He provides brilliant examples of how computers can 'solve' any problem - without 'understanding' what they are solving (e.g. DeepThought and the simple chess move which stumped it).
This theme in itself would make this a worthwhile read. However - this book offers further gems from Quantum Physics - with perhaps the simplest and best explanation of lesser known quantum paradoxes such as the 'delayed choice' experiments. Godel's theorem is also dealt with lucidly.
Few authors can tackle the issue of 'mind and conciousness' without stepping into some mystical/unscientific goo. Penrose stays scientific - and works from facts and well known experiments.
I do not know of any other book that tackles this subject so clearly - and in such an exciting fashion. From my perspective - this clearly deserves 5 stars.
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