The World Behind the World

Like Hoel, McGilchrist explores the tension between two ways of perceiving the world—the analytical, reductive 'extrinsic' view and the holistic, lived 'intrinsic' view. It provides a deep historical and neurological look at how these two perspectives have shaped Western culture and the human mind.

As a primary proponent of Integrated Information Theory (IIT), which Hoel discusses extensively, Koch offers a rigorous yet accessible scientific framework for understanding consciousness. This book shares the same commitment to solving the 'Hard Problem' through a blend of neurobiology and information theory.

Hoel's interest in the evolution of human narrative and the 'internal' perspective mirrors Jaynes's classic, controversial theory on how human self-awareness emerged. Both authors look at ancient literature and historical shifts to trace the development of the modern subjective experience.

This book examines the evolution of subjectivity and the 'intrinsic' perspective from a biological standpoint. It resonates with Hoel’s exploration of how complex systems develop the capacity for experience, using the alien intelligence of cephalopods as a case study.

Seth explores the 'inner movie' of consciousness and how our brains construct our reality, a central theme in Hoel's work. The book balances cutting-edge neuroscience with philosophical inquiry into why the world feels the way it does to a conscious observer.

Kastrup argues for a philosophy of idealism that prioritizes the 'intrinsic' perspective of consciousness over materialist 'extrinsic' views. Readers who enjoyed Hoel's critique of scientific reductionism will find Kastrup's analytical approach to the primacy of mind deeply engaging.

This polymathic work explores how self-reference and meaning emerge from physical systems, much like Hoel’s investigation into how the 'world behind the world' arises. It shares a similar intellectual ambition, blending science, art, and logic to explain the nature of the self.

Hoffman uses evolutionary psychology and mathematical modeling to argue that our perceptions are not a window into reality, but a user interface. This aligns with Hoel's discussion on the gap between our internal experiences and the underlying physical structure of the universe.

Solms attempts to bridge the gap between subjective experience and objective biology by focusing on the feeling of being alive. His work echoes Hoel’s quest to find a scientific 'hook' for the intrinsic perspective within the mechanisms of the brain.

While more clinical, Sacks’s classic work emphasizes the 'intrinsic' narrative of the patient’s life over the 'extrinsic' data of their pathology. Hoel’s appreciation for the novel as a tool for understanding consciousness finds a perfect real-world parallel in Sacks’s deeply humanistic case studies.