Galileo's Error

If we want a science of consciousness, we will have to rethink what 'science' is. Understanding how brains produce consciousness is one of the great scientific challenges of our age. Some philosophers argue that the mystery is so deep it will never be solved. Others believe our standard scientific methods for investigating the brain will eventually produce an answer. In Galileo's Error, Professor Philip Goff proposes a third way, arguing both approaches are wrongheaded: we struggle to explain consciousness because physical science, as we currently conceive it, is not designed to deal with the issue. Explaining how Galileo's flawed philosophy of nature created the 'problem' of consciousness in the first place, Goff shows convincingly what we need to do to solve it. Controversial, stimulating and ahead of its time, Galileo's Error is an important step towards a complete vision of reality.

If we want a science of consciousness, we will have to rethink what 'science' is. Understanding how brains produce consciousness is one of the great scientific challenges of our age. Some philosophers argue that the mystery is so deep it will never be solved. Others believe our standard scientific methods for investigating the brain will eventually produce an answer. In Galileo's Error, Professor Philip Goff proposes a third way, arguing both approaches are wrongheaded: we struggle to explain consciousness because physical science, as we currently conceive it, is not designed to deal with the issue. Explaining how Galileo's flawed philosophy of nature created the 'problem' of consciousness in the first place, Goff shows convincingly what we need to do to solve it. Controversial, stimulating and ahead of its time, Galileo's Error is an important step towards a complete vision of reality.