Vitor Moura, who comments on this blog, suggested that I let people know about a new book, "Exploring Frontiers of the Mind-Brain Relationship," which includes a chapter on reincarnation by noted afterlife researcher Erlendur Haraldsson, as well as material by Peter Fenwick, Stuart Hameroff, and Mario Beauregard, among others.
The Amazon sales page is here:
"The conscious mind defines human existence. Many consider the brain as a computer, and they attempt to explain consciousness as emerging at a critical, but unspecified, threshold level of complex computation among neurons. The brain-as-computer model, however, fails to account for phenomenal experience and portrays consciousness as an impotent, after-the-fact epiphenomenon lacking causal power. And the brain-as-computer concept precludes even the remotest possibility of spirituality. As described throughout the history of humankind, seemingly spiritual mental phenomena including transcendent states, near-death and out-of-body experiences, and past-life memories have in recent years been well documented and treated scientifically. In addition, the brain-as-computer approach has been challenged by advocates of quantum brain biology, who are possibly able to explain, scientifically, nonlocal, seemingly spiritual mental states. Exploring Frontiers of the Mind-Brain Relationship argues against the purely physical analysis of consciousness and for a balanced psychobiological approach. This thought-provoking volume bridges philosophy of mind with science of mind to look empirically at transcendent phenomena, such as mystic states, near-death experiences and past-life memories, that have confounded scientists for decades.... Key coverage includes: Objections to reductionistic materialism from the philosophical and the scientific tradition.Phenomena and the mind-brain problem.The neurobiological correlates of meditation and mindfulness.The quantum soul, a view from physics. Clinical implications of end-of-life experiences. Mediumistic experience and the mind-brain relationship."
Certainly sounds interesting, but at a price of more than $100, I'm not tempted to rush out and buy it. Still, it's good to see a serious book of this type aimed at an academic audience. Maybe a lower-priced softcover or digital edition will be forthcoming.
Hameroff's chapter can be found in full here:
http://www.quantumconsciousness.org/documents/QSoulchap.pdf
Posted by: Michael Duggan | December 24, 2011 at 08:08 PM