tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42999723613896657992011-04-21T16:37:03.543-07:00Jon Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12252847239844275385noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4299972361389665799.post-40746571323241319512007-12-29T15:48:00.000-08:002007-12-29T16:10:05.281-08:00I have started this blog in order to track (and possibly disseminate) my work in the philosophy of consciousness. There are important questions regarding consciousness which need to be answered. It is the strongly held opinion of the author of this blog that in order to answer those questions we must of necessity adopt an inter-disciplinary approach. Each academic discipline which lays claim to the phenomenon of consciousness predominantly feels that their approach is the only one of real value to answering the question. Sequestered in their many and various ivory towers they pronounce judgment over (supposedly rival) fields of which they are generally ignorant. All is not hopeless however; there are a growing minority of researchers actively engaging in interdisciplinary work. This growing minority are beginning to coalesce around the term 'Consciousness Studies' to describe what they do. There is now a peer-reviewed journal of consciousness studies and various centres of consciousness research across the globe who take the answer to be more important than its providence. I am happy to have discovered this trend and hope to spend my career taking an active part in its development.<br /><br />I personally came to the thorny consciousness debate from the philosophy route. Having read for Bachelors and Masters degrees in Philosophy I am currently in the later stages of writing a Ph.D thesis on consciousness and its place in nature. I am lucky to have been given the opportunity to be involved in largest conference in the burgeoning field of consciousness studies. That conference 'Towards a Science of Consciousness' which is taking place at the University of Arizona in April http://www.consciousness.arizona.edu/tucson2008.htm has led me across the pond from my native England to work at 'The Center for Consciousness Studies' at the U of A where I will be collaborating with Professor Stuart Hameroff M.D. (one of those interdisciplinary souls mentioned above.)<br /><br />As things progress I hope that this blog will become a nexus of sorts for those interested in the very important questions surrounding consciousness: its nature, properties, genesis etc. Although as a practicing researcher I will be using this blog to put my own work into the public sphere, I will never shy away from engaging with opposing views. It is only through rational and reasonable discourse that progress will be made in both securing the answers and establishing them in the general public.<br /><br />Good luck to all who are searching answers.<br /><br />Be well<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4299972361389665799-4074657132324131951?l=consciousnessnaturalised.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jon Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12252847239844275385noreply@blogger.com0