6500fear@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu (David S. Fearon) (04/16/91)
. I have been working for the past three years on social psychological models of consciousness and have recently written a paper integrating Gerald Edelman's neurophysiological model of consciousness with that of the philosopher, George Herbert Mead. Edelman presented this model in his 1989 book, "The Remembered Present: A biological theory of consciousness." (New York: Basic Books). He based his model primarily on his earlier development of his "theory of neuronal group selection." From this, he derived a fairly comprehensive model of both the forms of conscious, intentional activity humans share with other animals, and also the special "higher-order" consciousness that developed through symbolic communication in human communities. What I would like to ask readers of this board are some of your opinions of Edelman's model of consciousness, and how it is generally regarded in the field. I have had a fairly extensive undergraduate background in the neurosciences, so was able to understand Edelman's arguments. I am not in touch with the neuroscience community, however, and I suspect that Edelman's bold effort was met with some skepticism, especially since much was speculative. I was impressed by Edelman's care in addressing the difficult empirical and philosophical issues in trying to bridge the gaps between human behavior and physiology, and I think he was largely successful in avoiding the reduction of one to the other. What I found most impressive in Edelman's model is its compatibility with George Herbert Mead's theories of human consciousness, nearly point for point. Mead's 65 year-old theories form the basis of much work in sociological social psychology, and so the neurophysiological dimension would provide grounds for expanding, modifying, and perhaps rejecting portions of Mead's theory. I have noted a few limitations in Edelman's theory, but I hope I can justify it as a central model for further integrating these two fields. Thank you in advance for your help David Fearon Dept. of Sociology University of California, Santa Barbara 6500fear@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu