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"Velmans work over the past two decades has established his rightful place among the most important philosophers of mind in the area of consciousness studies. This updated edition of his book is especially thought-provoking. It both summarizes and critiques the current literature, and offers innovative directions for future thinking. For those with interests in this area, it will warrant several readings." - Keith Harris in Metapsychology Online
"This book possesses the huge advantage that the limitations in most of the research on consciousness (and many of the previously proposed theories) can be seen with stark clarity from Velmans' theoretical perspective. ... This book is a major contribution to what is often regarded (and probably correctly!) as one of the most difficult areas in the whole of psychology. I am envious of the way in which Max Velmans has grappled with such success with a topic that has defeated so many psychologists over the years." – Michael W. Eysenck, Royal Holloway University of London
"Velmans gently guides the reader through a comprehensive, but entirely accessible, review of the current state of knowledge concerning consciousness with originality and clarity. This book is inspirational in its ability to stimulate a new level of thinking about consciousness." – Helen Henshaw in The Psychologist
"If you're interested in getting a good overview of contemporary approaches to understanding consciousness, both philosophical and experimental, I can recommend Understanding Consciousness, second edition, by British psychologist Max Velmans. Published by Routledge in 2009, you couldn't ask for anything more comprehensive." - Charles T. Tart, Professor, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto CA, and Professor Emeritus, Psychology, University of California, Davis
"I read this book from beginning-to-end, word-for-word, and even flipped back in turn to each of his 236 fascinating endnotes. ... Velmans’ book goes a long way towards our 'understanding consciousness'." – Bill Faw in Journal of Consciousness Studies
"What an intellectually rich and readable journey through the tangled fabric of consciousness studies! The consciousness debate is enriched immeasurably by this fine and disciplined journey, with just a pinch of ‘mind-dust’ to flavor the universe. Students of mind will find this to be among the finest and most disciplined journeys into the still dark corners of consciousness studies. ... This new edition of Understanding Consciousness is simply the best overview of consciousness studies that has ever been written." - Jaak Panksepp, Bailey Endowed Chair of Animal Well-Being Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University
Reviews of the First Edition:
"This is among the best books written about consciousness over the last decade. ... It sets a high standard in the natural philosophy of mind." - Professor Adam Zeman, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh in The Lancet
"Understanding Consciousness presents a lucid, indeed masterly, account of the philosophical issues involved." - Professor Jeffrey Gray, Institute of Psychiatry, London in Times Higher Educational Supplement
"Those who are engaged in the cognitive sciences should read this book so as to stimulate their own thinking. ... The implications for the field are quite profound." - Professor Igor Aleksander, Imperial College, London in Trends in Cognitive Sciences
"This is a fine book. In what has become a crowded field, it stands out as direct, deep, and daring. It should place Max Velmans amongst the stars in the field." - Professor Greg Nixon, Prescott College, Arizona in Journal of Consciousness Studies
"This book is excellent. There are lots of books on consciousness, but few which mix the philosophical, psychological and neuroscientific, and even fewer which are written without an axe to grind. ... A lovely book. … I’ll be recommending it to everyone I see." - Professor John Kihlstrom, University of California at Berkley
"A splendid assessment of and contribution to the debate about consciousness as it is currently being waged between psychologists, philosophers, some neuroscientists and AI people." - Professor Steven Rose, The Open University, UK
"This is a splendid book. ... In my view it should have a profound and lasting effect upon the debate as to the nature and function of consciousness, and should stimulate much new thinking and investigation." - Professor David Fontana, University of Cardiff and University of Algarve
"Following the best traditions, the book has an explanatory beginning, an unmissable middle and a happy end. ... It is refreshing to find amongst the consciousness literature a book that is so accessible and focused. Velmans maintains a clarity rarely found in the deep abysses of philosophy, psychology and neurophysiology without departing from the point. Consequently, I would recommend this book equally both to the connoisseur of consciousness studies and to the mere aficionado." - Dora Brown, University of Surrey, in The Psychologist
"Velmans launches a sustained and well-reasoned attack on the prevailing 'orthodoxies' of functionalism and other reductionist so-called explanations of consciousness. ...[In] arguing for his own position - his reflexive model - he deeply challenges the reader's assumptions. ... The reflexive model touches on deeply provocative ideas which could yet catalyse the next step forward in understanding consciousness." - Les Lancaster, Liverpool John Moore's University, in Consciousness & Experiential Psychology
"Max Velmans has written a fundamentally important book. At a time when many are expressing an increasing interest in our experience of 'consciousness', he presents a coherent and comprehensive survey of the state of knowledge in this field. ... But he does more than this. ... there is a level of original thinking in his writing that makes a useful contribution to the debate about one of the most complex issues of our time." - Joan Walton in Caduceus
"Being inspired with lucidity and a true interdisciplinary spirit, Understanding Consciousness is lasting in value." - Alexander Batthyany, University of Vienna, in Theory & Psychology
Review
"The chapters are arranged in logical and concise portions, resulting in an engaging and effortless read. Velmans gently guides the reader through a comprehensive, but entirely accessible, review of the current state of knowledge concerning consciousness with originality and clarity. This book is inspirational in its ability to stimulate a new level of thinking about consciousness." – Helen Henshaw in The Psychologist
"Velmans work over the past two decades has established his rightful place among the most important philosophers of mind in the area of consciousness studies. This updated edition of his book is especially thought-provoking. It both summarizes and critiques the current literature, and offers innovative directions for future thinking. For those with interests in this area, it will warrant several readings." - Keith Harris in Metapsychology Online
"This book possesses the huge advantage that the limitations in most of the research on consciousness (and many of the previously proposed theories) can be seen with stark clarity from Velmans' theoretical perspective. ... This book is a major contribution to what is often regarded (and probably correctly!) as one of the most difficult areas in the whole of psychology. I am envious of the way in which Max Velmans has grappled with such success with a topic that has defeated so many psychologists over the years." – Michael W. Eysenck, Royal Holloway University of London
"If you're interested in getting a good overview of contemporary approaches to understanding consciousness, both philosophical and experimental, I can recommend Understanding Consciousness, second edition, by British psychologist Max Velmans. Published by Routledge in 2009, you couldn't ask for anything more comprehensive." - Charles T. Tart, Professor, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto CA, and Professor Emeritus, Psychology, University of California, Davis
"I read this book from beginning-to-end, word-for-word, and even flipped back in turn to each of his 236 fascinating endnotes. ... Velmans’ book goes a long way towards our 'understanding consciousness'." – Bill Faw in Journal of Consciousness Studies
"What an intellectually rich and readable journey through the tangled fabric of consciousness studies! The consciousness debate is enriched immeasurably by this fine and disciplined journey, with just a pinch of ‘mind-dust’ to flavor the universe. Students of mind will find this to be among the finest and most disciplined journeys into the still dark corners of consciousness studies. ... This new edition of Understanding Consciousness is simply the best overview of consciousness studies that has ever been written." - Jaak Panksepp, Bailey Endowed Chair of Animal Well-Being Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University
Reviews of the First Edition:
"This is among the best books written about consciousness over the last decade. ... It sets a high standard in the natural philosophy of mind." - Professor Adam Zeman, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh in The Lancet
"Understanding Consciousness presents a lucid, indeed masterly, account of the philosophical issues involved." - Professor Jeffrey Gray, Institute of Psychiatry, London in Times Higher Educational Supplement
"Those who are engaged in the cognitive sciences should read this book so as to stimulate their own thinking. ... The implications for the field are quite profound." - Professor Igor Aleksander, Imperial College, London in Trends in Cognitive Sciences
"This is a fine book. In what has become a crowded field, it stands out as direct, deep, and daring. It should place Max Velmans amongst the stars in the field." - Professor Greg Nixon, Prescott College, Arizona in Journal of Consciousness Studies
"This book is excellent. There are lots of books on consciousness, but few which mix the philosophical, psychological and neuroscientific, and even fewer which are written without an axe to grind. ... A lovely book. … I’ll be recommending it to everyone I see." - Professor John Kihlstrom, University of California at Berkley
"A splendid assessment of and contribution to the debate about consciousness as it is currently being waged between psychologists, philosophers, some neuroscientists and AI people." - Professor Steven Rose, The Open University, UK
"This is a splendid book. ... In my view it should have a profound and lasting effect upon the debate as to the nature and function of consciousness, and should stimulate much new thinking and investigation." - Professor David Fontana, University of Cardiff and University of Algarve
"Following the best traditions, the book has an explanatory beginning, an unmissable middle and a happy end. ... It is refreshing to find amongst the consciousness literature a book that is so accessible and focused. Velmans maintains a clarity rarely found in the deep abysses of philosophy, psychology and neurophysiology without departing from the point. Consequently, I would recommend this book equally both to the connoisseur of consciousness studies and to the mere aficionado." - Dora Brown, University of Surrey, in The Psychologist
"Velmans launches a sustained and well-reasoned attack on the prevailing 'orthodoxies' of functionalism and other reductionist so-called explanations of consciousness. ...[In] arguing for his own position - his reflexive model - he deeply challenges the reader's assumptions. ... The reflexive model touches on deeply provocative ideas which could yet catalyse the next step forward in understanding consciousness." - Les Lancaster, Liverpool John Moore's University, in Consciousness & Experiential Psychology
"Max Velmans has written a fundamentally important book. At a time when many are expressing an increasing interest in our experience of 'consciousness', he presents a coherent and comprehensive survey of the state of knowledge in this field. ... But he does more than this. ... there is a level of original thinking in his writing that makes a useful contribution to the debate about one of the most complex issues of our time." - Joan Walton in Caduceus
"Being inspired with lucidity and a true interdisciplinary spirit, Understanding Consciousness is lasting in value." - Alexander Batthyany, University of Vienna, in Theory & Psychology
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Customer Reviews
This is a fine book. In what has become a crowded field, it stands out as direct, deep, and daring. It should place Max Velmans amongst the stars in the field like Chalmers, Dennett, Searle, and Churchland who are most commonly referenced in consciousness studies books and articles. It is direct in that the de rigueur history and review of the body-mind problem is illuminating and concise. It is deep in that Velmans deconstructs the usual idea of an objective world as distinct from our experienced world. It is daring in that in his last chapter he comes out on the side of consciousness co-evolving with the universe rather than arising at some point within it (though he insists that such speculation is beyond the more empirical intent of his earlier chapters). His views on a 'physicalism' with mental qualities predate the now popular views of Galen Strawson, who says much the same thing without giving Velmans credit.
Anti-reductionism. Velmans, like others, insists that the phenomenology of consciousness is just as important as any theories about consciousness. First person experience is vital to any understanding of consciousness. After all, the phenomenal world cannot exist without an observer. The brain itself is part of the experienced world and this is one the reasons he makes it clear that any sort of reductionism, including functionalism, just won't do as a prospective account of consciousness. He calls for an ontological monism, the universe, with a dual epistemology, the first- and third-person perspectives within it. Several times he denies that neural processes can be identical to consciousness even if they cause or correlate with them. His mantra is "correlation and causation do not establish ontological identity." As perceived, the world cannot help but be subjective. Even the world as revealed through scientific instruments is interpreted and theorized over by conscious minds. In this way, separating subjective and objective realities creates a false dichotomy. The world as experienced is intersubjectively verified and it is this we accept as reality. This world is not the thing-in-itself, as Kant forever made clear. It is not knowable in itself. That world seems to consist of energy exchanges and every perceptive-cognitive system creates a unique reality from it.
Reflexive monism. There simply is no reality to be experienced without an experiencing consciousness. At this point, it may seem he has idealized the mind and its place in existence, but those who hope for such a perspective may be slightly disappointed. Noting that most of the information processing of the mind is non-conscious or pre-conscious, he finds little for consciousness to actually do. Consciousness, he suggests, may be either the result of focal-attentive processing or, similarly, the result of inhibiting less important processing from achieving conscious attention. He notes the time-delay, made famous by Libet, in actual awareness of decisions already pre-consciously made. But, contra Libet, he also contends that even seemingly "spontaneous" conscious vetoes must have been preceded by some sort of pre-conscious processing. The universe is, as physics has taught us, a closed physical system so, on occasion, Velmans appears to come out on the side of determined causation in the free-will debate, yet other times he speaks for a larger freely-willing mind of which consciousness is but the tail end.
This is strong medicine from one who so valorizes consciousness and the absolutely vital role it plays in giving us a reality. Without consciousness, there would be nothing, no existence for anything. Yet, according to Velmans, consciousness most often has no actual role to play in determining reality. A more interesting corollary of his reflexive monism is that consciousness itself did not appear as the result of evolutionary processes -- except in the sense that its form has changed along with that of the material entities which carry it -- but in some essential sense was always present. This appears to put Velmans in the panpsychist school of thought, but, if so, that school of thought is only strengthened by his clear, consistent, and insightful approach.
Though Velmans attempts to excuse his last chapter as speculative, his notion of consciousness being coterminous (he calls it "continuous") with the physical universe is refreshing, but opens the usual conceptual quagmire of dualism that he is in danger of collapsing into. He spends a good deal of time attacking the formulation of David Chalmers, even though Chalmers has also suggested that experience may be a natural, universal property. He notes that Chalmers simultaneously claims consciousness as an emergent supervenience on the brain which Velmans sees as a contradiction to Chalmers's "panpsychofunctionalism" (Velmans' term). What Velmans does not deal with is how he can avoid the double-aspect nature of any physicalism that is also experiencing. Still, his support of panpsychism is bold and praiseworthy and should not be ignored -- and, again, its form is almost exactly copied in Galen Strawson's physicalist panpsychism.
Conclusion. My quibbles are intellectual and minor and are overwhelmed by the strength of his major argument for an ontological, reflexive monism that includes awareness. His epistemological dualism remains a double-aspect dualism, but he makes a convincing argument for overcoming it by calling for asymmetrical but complementary perspectives of first- and third-person on conscious phenomena. He could have noted that both perspectives are subject to the consensus negotiations of the second-person. All in all, a stimulating read which emphasizes some fundamental truths which are too often overlooked in consciousness studies. It is also important in that it opens channels to discussion about matters which have been excluded by mainstream science on faith in objective materialism (mechanistic physicalism) alone.
Historically, Western approaches to the mind/consciousness have been divided into two broad camps; monism - the view that reality is composed of one underlying type of thing/substance (either the physical or the mental) and dualism - the position that reality is composed of two types of substances, both the mental and the physical. Within the philosophy of the mind both positions are often seen to be problematic. In an effort to overcome these difficulties Velmans advocates an approach known as reflexive monism; a form of dual-aspect monism which contends that while the universe is composed of a single kind of `stuff' (monism), this primordial substance can be manifest either physically or mentally. While reflective monism is a novel approach from a modern scientific standpoint, as Velmans notes similar views have been advocated by a range of historic thinkers including the ancient Greek, certain Indian traditions and early modern thinkers such as Spinoza. Reflexive monism posits that consciousness has two equally valid perspectives, a first person `feel" and a third person `observed physical state of affairs". Velmans suggests a rough analogy to reflexive monism is wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics wherein the same underlying reality can be manifest in equally valid forms depending on the observational methods employed. Readers seeking an overview of reflexive monism may enjoy Velmans' 2008 Journal of Consciousness Studies paper, 'Reflexive Monism' - available on-line.
I offer a couple of observations for potential readers. From a substantive standpoint while I share the author's anti-reductive intuitions, I found myself struggling to fully grasp the perceived uniqueness or strength of reflexive monism. Some of my difficulties undoubtedly stem from by own preconceptions but, Velmans' description of reflexive monism struck me as somewhere between an awkward version of dualism and repackaged idealism (with a pantheistic flavor). While this is a large positive step away from reductive physicalism and functionalism its advantages over traditional dualism and idealism were less apparent. From a stylistic perspective the book felt choppy at times - giving the impression that it was composed in segments then integrated at a latter time - not bad, but a bit choppy. The audience for this book is probably readers with a background in some aspect of consciousness studies (neuroscience, cognitive psychology or philosophy of the mind). Readers seeking some contextual information may enjoy some excellent podcast course material from John Kihlstrom (Cognitive Psychology) and Searle (Philosophy of the Mind) both available through itunes University of California Berkley @ itunes.
Overall, this is an interesting addition to the popular literature on this fascinating subject.
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