Myth 5: “Julian Jaynes’s theory has been ‘debunked'”

Myth 5: “Julian Jaynes’s theory of consciousness and the bicameral mind has been ‘debunked’ or ‘disproven’.”

Fact: There are no substantive critiques of Jaynes’s theory that “disprove” or “debunk” the theory, and it’s unfortunate that this myth was repeated in the HBO series Westworld. Furthermore, Jaynes’s theory breaks down into four main hypotheses, each of which can potentially stand or fall on their own: 1. consciousness, as Jaynes carefully defines it, is based on language, 2. a previous mentality called the bicameral mind, 3. dating the transition from bicameral mentality to consciousness, and 4. the neurological model for bicameral mentality.

So if someone says “Jaynes’s theory has been disproven,” the first question should be: “Which aspect of it?”

There have been very few published, substantive critiques of Jaynes’s theory. As has been shown in the “Critiques & Reponses” section of this website, critiques of Jaynes’s theory are often based on misconceptions that are easily clarified. An early criticism by the philosopher Ned Block (that Jaynes confused the emergence of consciousness with the emergence of the concept of consciousness) was effectively countered at the time by Jaynes as well as Daniel Dennett (“Julian Jaynes’s Software Archaeology,” 1986). More recently, Block’s arguments were meticulously countered by the Dutch philosopher Jan Sleutels (“Greek Zombies,” in Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness, 2006) and Gary Williams (“What is it like to be nonconscious? A defense of Julian Jaynes”). Many of the most common questions people have about Jaynes’s theory are addressed in The Julian Jaynes Collection.

As with any new theory that challenges existing paradigms, there is certainly debate with regard to the details of each of Jaynes’s four hypotheses. This is the norm in the scientific process, and debate does not equate to refutation. New research over the past four decades has added a great deal of additional support for each of Jaynes’s hypotheses. This new evidence is described in detail in our latest book, Convesations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind. For example, studies now show that many more people today hear voices than was known even just a few decades ago, and that these voices often command their behavior. Evidence for bicameral mentality has been extended to additional cultures, such as ancient China and Tibet. Brain imaging studies have consistently shown a right hemispheric origin for auditory hallucinations, providing supporting evidence for Jaynes’s neurological model. New research, including child development studies, has also shed light on the role of language in the development of consciousness.

Learn more about Julian Jaynes’s theory by joining the Julian Jaynes Society and reading our books.