PROMETHEUS BOOKS, NOVEMBER 2016The Deep Mystery of Consciousness
The challenge of consciousness is uniquely curious. I am conscious, but what about you? We have no direct experience of any consciousness other than our own. We infer that others share similar kinds of internal experiences mainly because they look, behave and talk as we do. These similarities encourage the belief that others are aware of their own existence, thoughts, and environment just as we are. But, how much do we really know about the internal experiences of others? How do you experience a Mozart concerto, a bungee jump, a cockroach in your kitchen, or a nude person surprising you in an elevator? What about your dog or cat? What kinds of internal experiences do they have? Or, in the colorful words of one philosopher, ...
