The quest to understand the mind has motivated some of history's most profound thinkers. Only in our own time are we beginning to see the true complexity of this quest. In the scientific search for the mind, the role of philosophers is to sharpen our concepts, untangle the morass of questions, and systematically explore alternate approaches. Philosophy of Mind: Brains, Consciousness, and Thinking Machines makes you think, evaluate your own opinions, and change your mind not a few times as you grapple with the endlessly interesting phenomena of mind.

From our philosophical understanding of the mind, move on to Understanding the Brain to learn about recent, unparalleled advances in understanding how the brain does what it does. Everything you hear, feel, see, and think—everything that goes on inside your body and every interaction you have with the outside world—is controlled by your brain. It allows you to cope masterfully with your everyday environment and is also capable of producing breathtaking athletic feats, sublime works of art, and profound scientific insights. But its most amazing achievement may be that it can understand itself.