Acts of Consciousness A Social Psychology Standpoint [Paperback]

An original book about consciousness which draws on interviews with former captives, thought experiment stories and treatments in the arts.A novel approach to the study of consciousness, examining it from a social psychological perspective. Through classic thought experiment stories, research interviews with former captives and treatments in the arts, the author develops a 'cubist psychology of consciousness' allowing the topic to be studied from a fresh angle.A novel approach to the study of consciousness, examining it from a social psychological perspective. Through classic thought experiment stories, research interviews with former captives and treatments in the arts, the author develops a 'cubist psychology of consciousness' allowing the topic to be studied from a fresh angle.Drawing on compelling material from research interviews with former hostages and political prisoners, Guy Saunders reworks three classic thought experiment stories: Parfit's 'Teleporter', Nagel's 'What is it like to be a bat?' and Jackson's 'Mary the colour scientist' to form a fresh look at the study of consciousness. By examining consciousness from a social psychology perspective, Saunders develops a 'cubist psychology of consciousness' through which he challenges the accepted wisdom of mainstream approaches by arguing that people can act freely. What makes 'cubist psychology' is both the many examples taken from different viewpoints and the multiple ways of looking at the key issues of person, mind and world. This is a unique and engaging book that will appeal to students and academics in the field of consciousness studies and other readers with an interest in consciousness.Introduction; Part I. To Be Conscious: 1. To teleport or not to teleport? (Parfit); 2. To be a person: ego, bundle and social theories; 3. To be captive; Part II. To Have Consciousness: 4. 'What is it like to be a bat?' (Nagel); 5. Treatments of subjective conscious experience in the arts; 6. A captive mind; Part III.lã'