The Evolution of Consciousness: Implications for Mental Health and Quality of Life

✍ Scribed by Bjørn Grinde (auth.)

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing
• Year: 2016
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 256
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book gives the reader an understanding of what consciousness is about, and of how to make conscious experiences more pleasant. It expands on a new theory that describes the evolutionary trajectory leading to conscious life forms. In short, the evidence suggests that consciousness first evolved some 300 million years ago as a consequence of the introduction of feelings. Feelings offer a strategy for making behavioural decisions. Besides playing a crucial role in the evolution of the human mind, they are a key factor in regard to mental health and quality of life. Fortunately, the human brain is plastic. By exploiting available options for modulating the mind, it is therefore possible to impact on what sort of experiences the brain serves. More specifically, you can strengthen the capacity for positive feelings and reduce the sway of negative feelings. The text covers biological, neurological, psychological, and philosophical aspects of the mind.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages i-xv
A Conscious Life....Pages 1-18
The Brain—Your Personal Necktop Computer....Pages 19-42
The Evolution of Nervous Systems....Pages 43-61
Conscious Brains....Pages 63-104
The Neurobiological Correlate....Pages 105-138
States and Disorders of Consciousness....Pages 139-158
Quality of Life....Pages 159-180
Environmental Concerns....Pages 181-197
Mental Exercise....Pages 199-232
In the Future....Pages 233-246

✦ Subjects

Positive Psychology;Evolutionary Biology;Quality of Life Research;Neurosciences;Philosophy of Mind