How Many People Are There in My Head? And in Hers?: An Exploration of Single Cell Consciousness

by Edwards, Jonathan C W

• ISBN13: 9781845400729
• ISBN10: 1845400720
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-09-01
• Publisher: Ingram Pub Services

Summary

This book proposes that the only possible solution to the 'mind-brain' problem is that each nerve cell is conscious separately and that we have no other 'global' consciousness. We are colonies of sentient micro-organisms, each, unaware of the sentience of the others, led to believe that it is 'me'. Despite being counterintuitive and disquieting this idea may resolve several paradoxes hidden in the closets of brain research laboratories. The idea is explored in an accessible, matter of fact, and sometime irreverent manner, but nevertheless attempt to address fundamental issues of cell membrane biology and the nature of the observer, which may run deeper than the quantum/classical divide.

Author Biography

Jonathan C. W. Edwards is a professor of medicine at University College London.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Unthinkable?	1	(6)
Definitions	7	(3)
Part I: The Questions
What Needs Explaining?	10	(15)
A Wild Pigeon Chase?	25	(9)
Part II: Towards Answers
Grey Cells	34	(8)
Why Patterns Are So Important	42	(13)
Who Says a Cell Cannot Be Aware?	55	(10)
Waves and SAMEDI	65	(13)
What Sort of Wave Might Be Aware Like Us?	78	(6)
What Waves Are Present in Cells?	84	(19)
Cogito Ergo Sum	103	(17)
Part III: If It Were So
Thinking Is More Than Awareness	120	(18)
Talking About Awareness	138	(8)
Languages of Thought	146	(25)
Understanding	171	(7)
A (Very Short) Bit About --isms	178	(1)
Reprise: Why Cells Will Do, But Not Brains	179	(7)
Part IV: What Does It All Mean?
How Should We See Ourselves?	186	(10)
Religion, Politics and the Single Cell	196	(22)
Epilogue
Into a Secret Garden	207	(11)
Bibliography	218	(3)
Index	221