The Conscious Mind and the Material World

What makes us who we are? From a scientific viewpoint, any individual’s existence is improbable at best. Consciousness as an actuality is inarguable; its nature, however, remains elusive. This work argues the view of self as a field of pure consciousness, debating the existence of a continuing self and drawing conclusions about this entity and its relation to the physical body and the physical world. Beginning with an exploration of the relationship between mind and matter, it discusses ostensible psi phenomena such as extra-sensory perception and psychokinesis and their implications for our understanding of the mind and the cosmos. Additional topics include the perennial mind-body problem; the role of consciousness in quantum mechanics (and conversely the role of quantum mechanics in the study of consciousness); the anthropic principle; and evidence for Intelligent Design. Quasi-religious questions such as the survival of consciousness after death are also addressed.

Mathematical psychologist Douglas M. Stokes is a former associate editor of the Journal of Parapsychology and has contributed to various journals and publications on the subject. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Douglas M. Stokes

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 232
Bibliographic Info: bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2007
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3004-8
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8752-3
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Preface      1
Introduction. Dreams and Awakenings      3

1. Mind and Matter      17
2. Mind and the Quantum      31
3. Spontaneous Phenomena as Evidence for Psi      43
4. Experimental Investigations of Psi Phenomena      64
5. The Implications of Psi      84
6. Death and the Mind      110
7. The Nature of the Self      156
8. The Self Writ Large      177
9. A Summing Up      194

Bibliography      197
Index      219

• “recommended”—Choice
• “an interesting, up-to-date and well-informed excursion into the theoretical underpinnings of consciousnes and cosmos from quanta to qualia and beyond…a highly educating and entertaining read”—Journal of the Society for Psychical Research
• “exceptionally well-informed…provocative…comprehensive”—The Scientific and Medical Network