Christof Koch on Consciouness
Consciousness: Confessions of a Romantic Reductionist by Christof Koch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.
-Rene Descartes
The subject of the book is an age old conundrum that has preoccupied scientists,philosophers and mystics alike for over many millenia- How does the water of biological tissue become the wine of conscious perception? How can the inanimate rumblings of neurons cause feelings as diverse as love, fear, anger or existential angst? Do lower life forms possess that same apparatus as us to perceive love, loss and suffering? If so( if we are to believe Koch), what are the implications on our conduct towards them ?
Early on in the book, Koch desists from overemphasising a rigid definition of consciousness, arguing in favour of a loose interpretation derived from commonplace and clinical experience. Along the way he takes great care in pointing out the distinction between attention and consciousness- a frequent bone of contention in academic circles. The authors love for philosophy is not lost on the reader as he masterfully traces the philosophical underpinnings of consciousness from Aristotle to Nietzsche and Wittgenstein. Koch gives a blueprint for a rigorous theory based on the solid foundations of Shannon’s information theory- the so called Integrated information theory. To quote Koch ‘Even if it(IIT) turns out to be wrong, it will be wrong in interesting ways that illuminate the problem.’
Despite the ancient origins of the problem, most serious progress has occurred only in the recent past. Armed with gizmos like fMRIs, EEG and much recent still-optogenetics, neuroscientists are taking definitive steps in the right direction. The book is replete with topical case studies as well as classic experiments like the famous readiness potential experiments pioneered by Benjamin Libet. As such, the book is worth a dekko for the serious practitioner as well.
Koch does well in firmly extricating the study of consciousness from the realm of new age charlatans(Deepak Chopra ?) and cults and places it squarely in the domain of science- so that serious researchers can take a whack at it without losing credibility. Ever since the grand success of quantum mechanics and evolutionary biology, religion has been in constant retreat. In some ways, the mystery of consciousness is the last bastion where religions of all shapes and stripes have sought refuge from the onslaught of science.
Along the way the book provides the reader with interesting snippets about the life of a scientist working at the forefronts. It paints a charming picture of the relationship between a celebrated mentor and his famous acolyte. Koch poignantly captures the trials and tribulations concomitant with a crisis of faith. What stands out throughout the book is the extraordinary courage the pursual of a problem exacts from the scientist. Written in the finest traditions of modern science writing, it gets my unequivocal approval !