The Remembered Present: A Biological Theory of Consciousness

Nobel laureate Gerald M. Edelman proposes a comprehensive theory of consciousness in "The Remembered Present". Integrating findings generated by the recent explosive growth in the neurosciences with current knowledge of anatomy, cell biology, and psychology, Edelman has been able to construct a detailed model of how we become aware of our own existence. A genuine understanding of how mental states arise from the structure and function of the brain would be, as William James declared in 1892, the scientific achievement before which all past achievements would pale. Can a comprehensive biological theory of consciousness be constructed in 1990? Any attempt has to reconcile evidence garnered from such diverse fields as developmental and evolutionary biology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, cognitive psychology, psychiatry, and philosophy.