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The Mind's I: Fantasies And Reflections On Self & Soul Paperback – January 17, 2001

by Douglas R Hofstadter (Author), Daniel C. Dennett (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 133 ratings
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With contributions from Jorge Luis Borges, Richard Dawkins, John Searle, and Robert Nozick, The Mind's I explores the meaning of self and consciousness through the perspectives of literature, artificial intelligence, psychology, and other disciplines. In selections that range from fiction to scientific speculations about thinking machines, artificial intelligence, and the nature of the brain, Hofstadter and Dennett present a variety of conflicting visions of the self and the soul as explored through the writings of some of the twentieth century's most renowned thinkers.
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  1. Print length
    512 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Basic Books
  4. Publication date
    January 17, 2001
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.38 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0465030912
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0465030910
  8. Lexile measure
    1190L
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

Hofstadter Hofstadter Hofstadter Hofstadter Hofstadter
Godel, Escher, Bach I Am a Strange Loop Le Ton Beau De Marot Metamagical Themas Surfaces and Essences
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Explore the Works of Douglas R. Hofstadter A wonderful exploration of fascinating ideas at the heart of cognitive science: meaning, reduction, recursion, and much more. This book argues that the key to understanding selves and consciousness is the “strange loop” a special kind of abstract feedback loop inhabiting our brains. An autobiographical essay, a love letter to the French language, a series of musings on life, loss, and death, a sweet bouquet of stirring poetry—but most of all, it celebrates the limitless creativity fired by a passion for the music of words. Hofstadter's collection of quirky essays is unified by its primary concern: to examine the way people perceive and think. Now, with his wit and special talent for making complex ideas vivid, Hofstadter has partnered with Sander to put forth a highly novel perspective on cognition. This book will profoundly enrich our understanding of our own minds.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ever wondered who you are? Who you really are? This collection of writings and reflections by some of today's most notable thinkers is designed to enliven this most central, and most baffling, question in the philosophy of mind. In some ways, the questions posed and bantered about in this book are at the heart of all philosophical reasoning. They are the ultimate questions about the self. The Mind's I contains an astonishing variety of approaches to answering the question, "Who am I?" Between the covers of this book one encounters the literary erudition of Argentinean writer Jorge Luis Borges alongside the analytic rigor of John Searle. There are sophisticated metaphorical pieces (such as "The Princess Ineffabelle" by Polish philosopher and writer Stanislaw Lem), intriguing dialogues (like Raymond Smullyan's "Is God a Taoist?"), and serious but engaging philosophical essays from a host of thinkers (see Thomas Nagel's "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?").

Editors Hofstadter and Dennett--leading lights in the study of cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and the philosophy of mind--follow each selection with a short reflection designed to elaborate on their main themes. The Mind's I admirably broadens their fields to a more general audience. The book's essays are grouped into six categories, each successively raising the philosophical stakes by introducing new levels of complexity. Ultimately, one confronts some of the thorniest questions in modern philosophy here, such as the nature of free will, our place in the metaphysical world, and the possibility of genuine artificial intelligence. The book closes with a playful and perplexing piece by Robert Nozick, an adequate summation to The Mind's I. He writes, "Perhaps God has not decided yet whether he has created, in this world, a fictional world or a real one.... Which decision do you hope for?" --Eric de Place

About the Author

Douglas Hofstadter is College of Arts and Sciences Professor of Cognitive Science and Computer Science at Indiana University, Bloomington. His other books include the Pulitzer Prize-winning Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid; Metamagical Themas; The Mind's I; Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies; Le Ton beau de Marot; and Surfaces and Essences, with Emmanuel Sander. He lives in Bloomington, Indiana.

Daniel C. Dennett is Distinguished Arts and Sciences Professor, Professor of Philosophy, and Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books (January 17, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0465030912
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465030910
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1190L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.38 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 133 ratings

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  1. Douglas R. Hofstadter

    Douglas R. Hofstadter

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    Douglas Richard Hofstadter (born February 15, 1945) is an American professor of cognitive science whose research focuses on the sense of "I", consciousness, analogy-making, artistic creation, literary translation, and discovery in mathematics and physics. He is best known for his book Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, first published in 1979. It won both the Pulitzer Prize for general non-fiction and a National Book Award (at that time called The American Book Award) for Science. His 2007 book I Am a Strange Loop won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Science and Technology.

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  2. Daniel C. Dennett

    Daniel C. Dennett

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
133 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Mark A. Weiss
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful Entertainment with Plenty of Variety
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2005
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The book is an anthology of material excerpted from elsewhere -- each essay followed by "reflections" by Dennet and/or Hofstadter. There is plenty of variety, so I guarantee you will find some essays utterly delightful and entertaining -- wether or not you fancy yourself as one who would normally pursue philsophy of mind or epistemology. The "Princess Ineffabelle" is delightful in its poetry -- even for me, a lover of highly analytical discourse. "Is God a Taoist?" is a wonderful example of the socratic dialog -- but entertaining and insightful both as well (and also, as the "reflections" claim, even pious). "The Epistemological Nightmare" is just so many things -- including outright funny. Insights abound here too though -- especially in the "reflections". You think you are "the final aribiter" of what it is like to be you. You know what tastes good to you, etc. The editors show how this is not so unquestionably true. The very fact that we allow "evidence" to support our critiques means that, e.g. taste-testing failures of yours would have to discredit you. If you dis-allow that possibility from the start, you didn't have a test or evidence in the first place. I gave a bit of detail on "The Epistemological Nightmare", I know -- but this gives you a taste for how you will be simultaneously entertained (even to outright laughing), given insights, and prompted to think in ways you never would have thought of. There's plenty of variety to pick from in the book. Go anywhere, any time.
15 people found this helpful
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Michael
5.0 out of 5 stars This book will keep you up at night.
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2013
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I read The Mind's I over approximately a three week period. For the majority of that time, my wandering thoughts were captivated by musings and thought experiments about cognition and the mind. Whether you're already deeply interested in cognitive philosophy, or if you just want to have something interesting to think/talk about, you should read this book.

That being said, If you're looking for a deeply technical discussion or a book on neurology, then this is not the book for you. Here you will find very little concrete fact. However the lack of technical detail and care does not take away from the intended goal of this book (just like basically all of Hofstadter's other works).
7 people found this helpful
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BRANDI
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought/Mindfullness-provoking work of genius!
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2011
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"The MInd's Eye" is a thought provoking book that examines the ideas of "self" and "I" via many disparate authors/essays. Dennett is featured prominently, as are Dawkins and others from the worlds of philosophy/science/literature/criticism/psychology. It is a wide reaching book, and academic enough, while remaining easily accesssable to anyone w/ a sincere interest in exploring one's self. It's an entertaining, clever piece of prose and science. I highly recommend it to those who've enjoyed "Explaining Conscioussness", and "Breaking the Spell".
One person found this helpful
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James
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2010
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A great read! It is an edited work and so contains many short stories/essays with consciousness as the subject. You might not like all of the stories/essays, but you'll like most of them.

`What am I?', `Where am I?', and so forth are general topics.

I've had this book for years and will pick it up and re-read different parts for entertainment. I never fail to get something new out of it with every re-read.

Buy it, you'll like it!
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, amazing - Kindle version like a fork in your eye
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2023
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Absolutely horrible Kindle version of a favourite book. I own multiple printed copies so I can give them away (they never come back!) yet always be assured I have one. When it came out in Kindle (for a long time not available) I immediately purchased it.

This is AWFUL - if it is your only way, I suppose you might have to, but STRONGLY consider tracking down a printed copy. In fact, do that instead. Only if you fail after a year of searching, consider this. It's worth the wait in comparison.

No table of contents, no page breaks, no chapter breaks, horrific page formatting (e.g. sentences randomly starting new lines in the middle - some horrible formatting DISASTER), and is overall so awful as to change your opinion of this book for the worse and ruin your enjoyment.
4 people found this helpful
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Lydia
4.0 out of 5 stars The Mind's I opener
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2006
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This book by D&D is a wonderful, elegant, and fun way to introduce philosophical ideas about the mind. Especially in regards to people that have no familiarity, and even no interest! Because of the strong Hofstadter feel to this book (I don't think Dennett put much into this) anyone can pick it up and begin opening their "Mind's I" to the exhilaratingly beautiful philosophy of mind. So, if you for some reason you aren't interested in philosophy (IMPOSSIBLE!), but still enjoy thought-provoking fiction, Lewis Carroll type wit, and self-reflection, you'll still be able to appreciate this book.

I particularly enjoyed `A Conversation with Einstein's Brain' which was written by Hofstadter. In it, the reader is presented more implicit concepts about the mind than they will be able to recognize, with or without prior familiarity with the topics. It's truly a classic piece of art. Moreover, if you're not going to read the whole thing, or don't like a few essays in a row, don't put it down too quickly! If you hate it that much, skip to the second to last essay (mentioned above) and pry open your minds eye.
3 people found this helpful
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Freesia Perricone
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic collection
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2003
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If you've ever asked questions about mind, intelligence, identity, and the unity of the organism, you need to read this book. It's a collection of nice little stories and articles that are individually quite digestible. But each one is a great inspiration for questions and ideas and thoughts. And cumulatively, they present a synergistic panoply of alternative views and issues that synthesize into a truly enriching mind-altering experience.
Perhaps the best testament to this book's appeal is that I keep having to buy new copies because each time I let someone borrow it I never get it back. Or perhaps it's that I keep buying new copies anyway!
13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Bernie Hernandez
5.0 out of 5 stars Required introduction to “self” and “consciousness.”
Reviewed in Australia on July 12, 2020
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Having read it originally more than twenty years ago but leaving it behind during my move to Australia, I am SO happy to have found it still available on print, although I would’ve loved to get it on kindle, instead.

I consider this book, if not triggered, certainly cemented my interest in the concepts of “self” and “consciousness” in a way that has enlightened my career ever since.

It is quite interesting and entertaining the way both co-editors select and discuss each of the selections, but not always agreeing on why nor their perspectives on the main topics. Reminds me a lot of Plato’s Dialogues, with the twist of all the parties in this book being real humans (or not?)

Definitely recommended, even if you don’t agree with other works of the editors.
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Dylan Gimel
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2015
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Excellent stories, both the fiction and non-fiction. Still open it up from time to time.
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Mani Srinivasan
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on November 28, 2015
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If you like philosophy and artificial intelligence, this is the book for you..
One person found this helpful
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John
5.0 out of 5 stars Mind blowing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2011
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I first bought this book at least twenty years ago and it had a profound affect on how I thought about life, the universe and everything. I recommend it without reservation to anyone who wants to try looking at things another way (or another couple of ways or three)
3 people found this helpful
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Phillip Carter
5.0 out of 5 stars I recommend grabbing "I am a strange loop" also
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2016
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I recommend grabbing "I am a strange loop" also, they go very well together. I love this sort of thing, so I am biased towards a five star review...
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