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Books > Science & Mathematics > Science: general issues
In "Theatre of the Mind", Jay Ingram, whose past scientific
investigations include the properties of honey on toast and the
complexities of the barmaid's brain, tackles one of the most
controversial of subjects: consciousness. Scientists have long
tried to map our brains and understand how it is that we think and
are self-aware, but what do we really know? Any discussion of the
brain raises more questions than answers, and Ingram illuminates
some of the most perplexing ones: what happens in our minds when
we're driving and we suddenly realise that we don't remember the
last few miles and how do we remember images, sounds, and aromas
from our past so vividly, and why do we often recreate them so
differently in our dreams. Ingram's latest book is a mind-bending
experience, a cerebral, stylish ride through the history,
philosophy, and science of the brain and the search for the
discovery of the self.
Trees and tree products have long been central to human life and
culture, taking on intensified significance during the long
eighteenth century. As basic raw material they were vital economic
resources, objects of international diplomatic and commercial
exchange, and key features in local economies. In an age of ongoing
deforestation, both individuals and public entities grappled with
the complex issues of how and why trees mattered. In this
interdisciplinary volume, contributors build on recent research in
environmental history, literary and material culture, and
postcolonial studies to develop new readings of the ways trees were
valued in the eighteenth century. They trace changes in early
modern theories of resource management and ecology across European
and North American landscapes, and show how different and sometimes
contradictory practices were caught up in shifting conceptions of
nature, social identity, physical health and moral wellbeing. In
its innovative and thought-provoking exploration of man's
relationship with trees, Invaluable trees: cultures of nature, 1660
-1830 argues for new ways of understanding the long eighteenth
century and its values, and helps re-frame the environmental
challenges of our own time.
A BOOK OF THE YEAR GUARDIAN, THE ECONOMIST, NEW STATESMAN,
FINANCIAL TIMES, BLOOMBERG Anil Seth's radical new theory of
consciousness challenges our understanding of perception and
reality, doing for brain science what Dawkins did for evolutionary
biology. 'A brilliant beast of a book.' DAVID BYRNE 'Hugely
important.' JIM AL-KHALILI 'Masterly . . . An exhilarating book: a
vast-ranging, phenomenal achievement that will undoubtedly become a
seminal text.' GAIA VINCE, GUARDIAN Being You is not as simple as
it sounds. Somehow, within each of our brains, billions of neurons
work to create our conscious experience. How does this happen? Why
do we experience life in the first person? After over twenty years
researching the brain, world-renowned neuroscientist Anil Seth puts
forward a radical new theory of consciousness and self. His unique
theory of what it means to 'be you' challenges our understanding of
perception and reality and it turns what you thought you knew about
yourself on its head. 'Seth thinks clearly and sharply on one of
the hardest problems of science and philosophy, cutting through
weeds with a scientist's mind and a storyteller's skill.' ADAM
RUTHERFORD 'A page-turner and a mind-blower . . . Beautifully
written, crystal clear, deeply insightful.' DAVID EAGLEMAN 'If you
read one book about conciousness, it must be Seth's. JULIAN
BAGGINI, WALL STREET JOURNAL 'Amazing.' RUSSELL BRAND 'Gripping.'
ALEX GARLAND 'I loved it.' MICHAEL POLLAN 'Fascinating.' FINANCIAL
TIMES 'Awe-inspring.' NEW STATESMAN 'Brilliant.' CLAIRE TOMALIN,
NEW YORK TIMES
This Companion provides a comprehensive, state-of-the-art overview
and critical evaluation of existing conceptualizations and new
developments in innovation research. Arguing that innovation
research requires inter- and trans-disciplinary explanations and
methodological pluralism at various levels, it draws on multiple
perspectives of innovation, knowledge and creativity from
economics, geography, history, management, political science and
sociology. The Companion provides the definitive guide to the field
and introduces new approaches, perspectives and developments. The
Companion systematically analyzes the challenges, problems and gaps
in innovation research. Leading scholars reflect upon and
critically assess the fundamental topics of the field, including:
innovation as a concept innovation and institutions innovation and
creativity innovation, networking and communities innovation in
permanent spatial settings innovation in temporary and virtual
settings innovation, entrepreneurship and market making innovation
governance and management. Innovation researchers and students in
economics, economic geography, industrial sociology, innovation
studies, international business, management and political science
will find the Companion to be an essential resource. It will also
appeal to practitioners in innovation and policy makers in economic
development, public policy and innovation policy. Contributors
include: H. Bathelt, N. Bradford, T. Burger-Helmchen, M. Callon, U.
Cantner, P. Cohendet, D.H. Cropley, L. D'Adderio, P. Desrochers, U.
Dewald, G. Dosi, D. Dougherty, J.Y. Douglas, J.R. Faulconbridge,
M.P. Feldman, M. Ferrary, D. Foray, N. Geilinger, E. Giuliani, J.
Gluckler, B. Godin, F. Golfetto, G. Grabher, M. Granovetter, S.
Haefliger, I. Hamdan-Livramento, A.B. Hargadon, A. Hatchuel, S.
Henn, J.-A. Heraud, A.J. Herod, C. Hussler, O. Ibert, A. Lagendijk,
P. Le Masson, S. Leppala, D. Leslie, S. Lhuillery, P. Li, N. Lowe,
B.-A. Lundvall, E.J. Maelecki, L. Marengo, S. McGrath-Champ, J.
Merkel, S. Ogawa, F. Pachidou, G. Parmentier, J. Penin, G. Pickren,
A.C. Pratt, J. Raffo, A. Rainnie, A. Rallet, N.M. Rantisi, D.
Rinallo, J. Roberts, R.G. Shearmur, L. Simon, B. Sinclair-Desgagne,
B. Spigel, J. Szurmak, A. Torre, B. Truffer, A. Van Assche, W.
Vanhaverbeke, S. Vannuccini, C. Vellera, E. Vernette, G. von Krogh,
B. Weil, D.A. Wolfe
This book offers the first in-depth investigation into the
relationship between the National Birth Control Association, later
the Family Planning Association, and contraceptive science and
technology in the pre-Pill era. It explores the Association's role
in designing and supporting scientific research, employment of
scientists, engagement with manufacturers and pharmaceutical
companies, and use of its facilities, patients, staff, medical,
scientific, and political networks to standardise and guarantee
contraceptive technology it prescribed and produced. By taking a
micro-history approach to the archives of the Association, this
book highlights the importance of this organisation to the history
of science, technology, and medicine in twentieth-century Britain.
It examines the Association's participation within Western family
planning networks, working particularly closely with its American
counterparts to develop chemical and biological means of testing
contraception for efficacy, quality, and safety.
Smart Technologies and Fundamental Rights covers a broad range of
vital topics that highlight the ethical, socio-political, and legal
challenges as well as technical issues of Artificial Intelligence
with respect to fundamental rights. Either humanity will greatly
profit from the use of AI in almost all domains in human life,
which may eventually lead to a much better and more humane society,
or it could be the case that people may misuse AI for idiosyncratic
purposes and intelligent machines may turn against human beings.
Therefore, we should be extremely cautious with respect to the
technological development of AI because we might not be able to
control the machines once they reached a certain level of
sophistication.
The Principles of Psychology Volume 1, complete with William James'
original notes, illustrations, tables and charts clarifying the
theory described and arguments made. Appearing in 1890, The
Principles of Psychology was a landmark text which established
psychology as a serious scientific discipline. William James'
compiled a convincing, lengthy and broad thesis, devoting detail
and vigorous analysis in every chapter. The text's
comprehensiveness and superb presentation played a pivotal role in
bringing the science of mental health closer toward the scholarly
mainstream. The entire book is set out intuitively: there are two
volumes, each of which has a certain number of chapters. While some
chapters have sub-sections, James is careful not to make his
textbook dry or convoluted in organisation. Each chapter
introduces, discusses and concludes on a particular subject -
whether it be the role of psychology as an academic and medical
discipline, or the various functions of the human brain.
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