The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind

The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes, 491 pages

The title of this book is confusing. The most basic way to explain it is that Jaynes believed the right hemisphere gave orders to the left hemisphere and that system (bicameral mind) broke down when consciousness emerged. People described it as taking orders from god(s). Part of his argument lies in the similarities of ancient religions including ones that are halfway around the world. It includes the way they depict their gods and where holy sites are located in towns or settlements.

Jaynes believed this happened much later in human history than we think. He puts the time somewhere in the time of the Greeks. Part of his evidence lies in analyzing the language in the Iliad and the Odyssey. His analysis indicates that while humans had bicameral minds people didn't think they were in control. The Odyssey's language contains evidence of people believing they are in charge of their own actions.

Jaynes believes that schizophrenia is a situation where the brain has partially reverted to the bicameral mind and makes the argument that evidence proves his idea.

While I don't buy Jaynes's theory I am glad that I read this book because it is a classic and now I am going to have to re-watch the first season of Westworld with the theories from the book in mind. I did find it noteworthy that when Jaynes was defining what consciousness isn't the ways mirrored what Koch mentioned in Consciousness: Confessions of a Romantic Reductionist.