The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind

julian jaynes

At the heart of this classic, seminal book is Julian Jaynes's still-controversial thesis that human consciousness did not begin far back in animal evolution but instead is a learned process that came about only three thousand years ago and is still developing. The implications of this revolutionary scientific paradigm extend into virtually every aspect of our psychology, our history and culture, our religion -- and indeed our future.

Genres psychologyphilosophynonfictionsciencehistoryreligionanthropologyneurosciencebrainspirituality

467 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,1976

Literary awards

national book award finalist,

This edition

Format: 467 pages, Hardcover
Published: June 1, 1979 by Allen Lane
ISBN: 9780713912548
ASIN: 0713912545
Language: English

About the author

julian jaynes

Julian Jaynes was an American psychologist, best known for his book The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, in which he argued that consciousness is a cultural development based on metaphorical language that occurred 3,000 years ago. Prior to the development of consciousness, humans operated under a different mentality Jaynes calls "the bicameral mind." Jaynes argues that vestiges of the bicameral mind are still prevalent throughout the modern world.

Jaynes defines "consciousness" more narrowly than some philosophers, and his definition of consciousness is essential to understanding his theory. Jaynes' definition of consciousness is synonymous with what philosophers now call "meta-consciousness" or "meta-awareness" i.e. awareness of awareness, thoughts about thinking, desires about desires, beliefs about beliefs.

For more information on Julian Jaynes's theory, please visit the Julian Jaynes Society at julianjaynes.org