Beyond the Mind & Brain: Vedanta and the Hard Problem of Consciousness

By Adam Franklin

The Hard Problem of Consciousness--A Philosophical Inquiry Leading to an Ancient Realization David Chalmers' formulation of the hard problem of consciousness is one of the most important intellectual contributions to modern philosophy of mind. By clearly distinguishing between the functional aspects of cognition and the mystery of subjective experience , he has challenged materialist assumptions and opened the door to deeper inquiry. This book builds upon his insights and proposes that the hard problem is not merely a scientific or philosophical challenge but a profound existential question--one that has long been explored in the world's great wisdom traditions, particularly Vedanta. Chalmers' work highlights a critical limitation in contemporary understandings of consciousness. While neuroscience has made tremendous progress in explaining how the brain processes information, it has not come close to answering why subjective experience--the feeling of being alive--exists at all. His refusal to dismiss this question as an illusion is what makes his contribution so significant. By insisting that there is something more to explain, he has created space for new ways of thinking about consciousness, including perspectives that move beyond traditional physicalist frameworks. This book argues that Chalmers' search for a solution aligns, whether consciously or not, with an inquiry that has been at the heart of philosophical and spiritual traditions for millennia. The fundamental question-- what is the nature of consciousness? --has been approached in different ways across cultures. While Western philosophy has largely sought conceptual explanations, traditions like Vedanta have focused on direct realization, holding that consciousness is not a byproduct of brain activity, but the irreducible foundation of reality itself .

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F5PMS53T
• ISBN13: 9798313768106
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 204 Pages
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.5" x 6.1"