商品簡介
This book gives the reader an understanding of what consciousness is about, and of how to affect conscious experiences by making them more pleasant. It studies the question of why we have consciousness rather than the question of what creates consciousness, and expands on a new theory that describes the evolutionary trajectory leading to conscious life forms. It proposes a model that sheds light not only on what consciousness is about, but also on how to deal with this, most important, aspect of the human brain. It examines the issue of happiness, building on the premise that it is possible to modulate, or ‘train’, properties of the brain, and therefore it is possible to strengthen the capacity for positive feelings and reduce the sway of negative feelings. It links the topic of happiness to biology and mental health, but also to areas in philosophy and the social sciences.
作者簡介
Bjorn Grinde received his education in natural sciences, psychology, and anthropology from the University of Oslo; ending with a Dr.Scient. (1981) and a Dr.Philos. (1984) in biology. He is presently Chief Scientist at the Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Previously he has served as a scientist and professor at leading universities in Norway, the United States, and Japan. A primary focus of his research has been to understand the process of evolution, particularly how it has formed the human brain and our capacity to enjoy life. He has written several books, including Darwinian Happiness (The Darwin Press, 2002; 2nd Edition, 2012); God—A Scientific Update (The Darwin Press, 2011); and The Biology of Happiness (Springer Verlag, 2012). Together with Professor David Sloan Wilson at Binghamton University, NY, he is engaged in research aimed at practical ways to improve people’s quality of life.
