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[ocsrazor]

The Robot's Rebellion: Finding Meaning in the Age of Darwin
by Keith E. Stanovich

http://www.amazon.co...il/-/0226770893

I've read the first two chapters of this book, and so far it is excellent. It goes a long way towards addressing the problems with reductionistic materialism on one hand and the misconceptions of folk psychology about how are brains work on the other. Stanovich explores how our society is finally beginning to absorb the philosophical lessons of Darwin and move on to addressing the fourth major discontinuity in human worldview - that the human brain is somehow a unique system in the universe.

The most exciting part of the book is the author's focus on what it means that we are the only form of life that recognizes our evolutionarily programmed goals and that we can override them for the benefit of ourselves rather than blindly following the intentions of our genes.

I'll add a follow up when I finish.

Peter

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Edited by ocsrazor, 12 May 2004 - 04:10 AM.

[bacopa]

Wow Ocsrazor that's what I've been hung up on for the last few years of my life to say the least, it's great that finally people are openly accepting and circulating these ideas as opposed to the more simplistic high school version of Darwin, Speciation and our genes. There seems to be many books out that have similar themes and focus, I hope this continues.

[asian_american]

A really good book indeed. Here is a good review: http://home.comcast....enics/robot.htm