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

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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

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