Routledge Handbook of Consciousness

There has been an explosion of work on consciousness in the last 30–40 years from philosophers, psychologists, and neurologists. Thus, there is a need for an interdisciplinary, comprehensive volume in the field that brings together contributions from a wide range of experts on fundamental and cutting-edge topics. The Routledge Handbook of Consciousness fills this need and makes each chapter’s importance understandable to students and researchers from a variety of backgrounds. Designed to complement and better explain primary sources, this volume is a valuable "first-stop" publication for undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in any course on "Consciousness," "Philosophy of Mind," or "Philosophy of Psychology," as well as a valuable handbook for researchers in these fields who want a useful reference to have close at hand. The 34 chapters, all published here for the first time, are divided into three parts: Part I covers the "History and Background Metaphysics" of consciousness, such as dualism, materialism, free will, and personal identity, and includes a chapter on Indian philosophy. Part II is on specific "Contemporary Theories of Consciousness," with chapters on representational, information integration, global workspace, attention-based, and quantum theories. Part III is entitled "Major Topics in Consciousness Research," with chapters on psychopathologies, dreaming, meditation, time, action, emotion, multisensory experience, animal and robot consciousness, and the unity of consciousness. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction and concludes with a list of "Related Topics," as well as a list of "References," making the volume indispensable for the newcomer and experienced researcher alike.

"Keeping up with work on consciousness is becoming harder and harder. Luckily The Routledge Handbook of Consciousness alleviates this headache. The thirty four chapters collectively give a comprehensive and up-to-date survey of the field, written by leading specialists. A must-have for researchers and serious students alike." --Alex Byrne, Professor of Philosophy, MIT"The editor’s choice of entries in this Handbook reflects the complexity and marvel of consciousness. Expert philosophers and psychologists offer a wide range of approaches to studying consciousness. Students and researchers looking for eastern or western perspectives will find both represented here." -Susanna Siegel, Harvard University"This exceptionally comprehensive and highly accessible survey of topics in the multidisciplinary study of consciousness stands out as an excellent introduction to the field. t is a helpful guide through the thickets of interwoven debates and an essential collection for researchers working in any area of consciousness who want a reliable and illuminating overview of the big picture. This book will be a marvelous resource for anyone beginning their study of consciousness and for expert researchers alike."--Andrew Bailey, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Associate Dean (Research & Graduate Studies), University of Guelph, Canada

Rocco J. Gennaro is Professor of Philosophy and Chairperson of the Philosophy Department at the University of Southern Indiana. Two of his more recent books are The Consciousness Paradox: Consciousness, Concepts, and Higher-Order Thoughts (2012) and Consciousness (Routledge, 2017). He is also editor of Disturbed Consciousness: New Essays on Psychopathology and Theories of Consciousness (2015).