The “bicameral mind” 30 years on: a critical reappraisal of Julian Jaynes’ hypothesis

Cavanna, Andrea Eugenio and Trimble, Michael and Cinti, Federico and Monaco, Francesco (2007) The “bicameral mind” 30 years on: a critical reappraisal of Julian Jaynes’ hypothesis. Functional Neurology; New Trends in Interventional Neurosciences, 22 (1). pp. 11-15. ISSN 1971-3274

PDF portiere.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (31kB)

Abstract

In 1976 Julian Jaynes published his controversial book The Origins of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, introducing the hypothesis of a two-chambered brain-mind model that preceded the evolutionary development of the conscious mind. Jaynes’ speculative model gave rise to a huge debate, which has reverberated throughout the current neuroscientific and neurophilosophical literature. Has the bicameral mind stood the test of time? To answer this question, the present paper adopts a multidisciplinary perspective and, after briefly summarizing Jaynes’ hypothesis, addresses two main critical issues: the neurological basis of the bicameral model and the philological accuracy of Jaynes’ arguments. Finally, the concept of a non-unitary Self is presented as one of the most relevant contemporary legacies of the bicameral mind

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Bicameral mind, consciousness, qualia
Subjects:	600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate > 610 Medicina e salute (Classificare qui la tecnologia dei servizi medici) > 616 Malattie (classificare qui la Clinica medica, la medicina basata sull'evidenza, la Medicina interna, la Medicina sperimentale) > 616.8 Malattie del sistema nervoso e disturbi mentali (Classificare qui la Neuropsichiatria, la Neurologia)
Depositing User:	Danilo Dezzi
Date Deposited:	25 Mar 2012 07:48
Last Modified:	25 Mar 2012 07:48
URI:	http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/3707

Actions (login required)

View Item