Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 Consciousness is the ground of our identity and a source of great value. It is the only thing we know for certain is real. Without it, the universe would still be awe-inspiring, but without a conscious mind to appreciate its majesty, there is no value in the existence of all that stuff. #2 The fact that we are conscious beings is the most certain thing in the world, and yet we have been unable to incorporate this fact into our scientific understanding of the world. #3 The track record of physical science in explaining everything else is impressive. But the track record of physical science in explaining consciousness is dismal. Many scientists and philosophers take this to be good evidence that, in spite of current disappointments, neuroscience will one day crack the mystery of consciousness. #4 The problem of explaining the origins of life was solved by the insight that complex organisms emerge from complex systems. The problem of explaining the origins of consciousness was solved by the theory of natural selection, which explained how complex life emerges

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