Bicameral mind
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind (1976) is a controversial work of popular psychology by Julian Jaynes in which he proposed that
consciousness emerged relatively recently in human history.
Summary
Jaynes asserted that until the times written about in Homer's Iliad, humans did not have the "interior monologue" that is characteristic of consciousness as most people
experience it today. Instead, he argued that something like schizophrenia
was the typical human mental state as recently as 3000 years ago.
Jaynes described this state as a bicameral mind by analogy with bicameral
legislatures and parliaments. Jaynes argued that preconscious humans effectively had a "split brain" which allowed one part of
the brain to appear to be "speaking" to another part, and that commands issued by
"gods"--so often recorded in ancient myths, legends and historical accounts--were in fact
emmanating from individuals' own minds.
Jaynes built his case for this theory by citing evidence in the Iliad, the Bible (especially sections of the Old Testament), studies of
schizophrenics, and other diverse sources.
According to Jaynes, the breakdown of this bicameral mind into an integrated system led to modern consciousness, by allowing
the creation of a continuous "internal narrative".
Jaynes further argues that divination arose during this breakdown period, in
an attempt to reconnect with the vanishing "gods."
The book was financially successful, and has been reprinted several times.
The book was originally published in 1976 (ISBN 0395207290) and was nominated for the
National Book Award in 1978. It has since been reissued
(ISBN 0618057072).
A new edition, with an afterword that addressed some criticisms and restated the main themes, was published in the US in 1990.
This version was published in the UK by Penguin Books in 1993 (ISBN 0140174915) with a quote by Douglas Adams on the front ("Quite possibly a book of the century").
Response
Jaynes's hypothesis found little acceptance among mainstream academics. His proposal generated great controversy when first published, and provided
impetus for many other scientists and philosophers to investigate the matters it discussed in detail in order to attempt to
refute its arguments.
Some authorities, however, consider Jaynes's hypothesis worthy, and offered conditional support, arguing the notion deserves
further study.
Influence
It has also been great fodder for cyberpunk authors; Neal Stephenson's first several books (The Big U, Zodiac, Snow Crash, The Diamond
Age) involve the bicameral mind theory, as does Bruce
Sterling's Distraction.
Some scholars believe that Jaynes' theory describes a real event, but dates it wrong. One theory about pre-historic cave paintings, for example, is that they offer us a window into a time when
consciousness was emerging, perhaps through the breakdown of bicameralism.
External links
Book reviews
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