Douglas Hofstadter (1979) saw and articulated the need for a new science of complex tangled hierarchical systems. After 30 years, this is still a useful general description of how mind can arise from mere matter. This is my favorite book, and it should be required reading for all mind/brain philosophers. I'm still waiting for a HyperText edition, even if Hofstadter does not want to turn his book into a "circus"! Here is a start.

GEB contains what is still the definitive treatment of the implications of Turing machines for artificial intelligence research and cognitive neuroscience. People like Roger Penrose have a different view of things that is based on their fear of determinism and their dream that quantum uncertainty can salvage our Free Will.

Review by TAL COHEN.

Look at the table of contents for GEB.

Go to John's Book Page.

Go to John's Home Page.