The Inner Light Theory of Consciousness

The Inner Light Theory
of Consciousness

by Steven W. Smith, Ph.D.
California Technical Publishing

ISBN 0-9660176-1-7 (2001)

A Scientific Look at the Human Mind
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The Paradox of Consciousness
The human mind appears to us in two completely different ways. On one hand, science sees the mind as the operation of the brain, the electrochemical activity in a vast network of nerve cells. But on the other hand, we each see ourselves as a conscious being, capable of thinking, feeling, and experiencing the world around us. We see the redness of a rose, smell its fragrance, and appreciate its beauty. We contemplate the meaning of life, and freely decide how to think and act. These aspects of the mind seem to entail something beyond the physical world, something that is fundamentally different from the machine-like operation of the brain.

But how can this be? How can the mind appear as one thing from the outside, but as an entirely different thing from the inside? This paradox has haunted scientists and philosophers since the beginning of man's history. In groundbreaking work, The Inner Light Theory of Consciousness closes the gap, unifying science and our personal experience into a compelling explanation of what we really are.

General information

A brief overview of the The Inner Light Theory (2 pages)
A longer overview of the The Inner Light Theory (12 pages)
What is the strange picture on the front cover?
David Chalmers' list of on-line consciousness papers
Where can I purchase the Star Trek episode: The Inner Light? Amazon.com

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Copyright and Permissible Use

Table of contents and preface

Chapter 1: The Ancient Riddle of Consciousness

Chapter 2: Reduction and Emergence

Chapter 3: The Third Person View of the Mind

Chapter 4: The First Person View of the Mind

Chapter 5: Defining the Problem

Chapter 6: Information-Limited Subrealities

Chapter 7: The Subreality Machine in the Brain

Chapter 8: The Function of the Subreality Machine

Chapter 9: Consciousness as a Limitation

Chapter 10: The Tale of Big Head Bill

Chapter 11: Epilogue

How to order your own paperback copy
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$16.00 plus S&H

180 pages, 37 illustrations

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About the author and his work

Steve Smith's home page

Another Smith book: The Scientist and Engineer's Guide to Digital Signal Processing

Steve Smith's research and development group: Spectrum San Diego, Inc.

Contacting the author and publisher

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Dear Readers, I am a scientist and engineer by trade, but have long been fascinated by the nature of consciousness. Some claim that the human mind is a thing in itself, something that is separate and distinct from the physical body. In contrast, others see the mind as nothing but the operation of a complex machine, the human brain. Still others look to modern physics for an answer, claiming that consciousness arises from the strange interactions of Quantum Mechanics. Like many, I find these explanations to be weak and unsatisfying, usually without the slightest evidence that they are true.
The Inner Light Theory of Consciousness is my solution to this ancient mystery. The goal of this book is extremely ambitious, nothing less than providing a scientific explanation of the human mind. I invite you to read the free material, and if interested, buy the book. Thanks for your time; I hope you enjoy the ideas. Steve Smith November, 2001