When we hear the word “consciousness” many of us, in a knee-jerk manner, associate it with neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, or something physically inborn. We also link it to perceptual or cognitive processes that are non-historical and non-cultural. However, according to Jaynesian psychology, these are all misleading assumptions since consciousness is not necessary for perception, learning, and reasoning. It is extra-genetic and a product of sociocultural forces and it entered the historical scene relatively recently, about three millennia ago. Indeed, as a culturally-configured form of knowledge, consciousness is closer to mathematics or other domains of learning. Consciousness is a very special form of knowledge, of course, but an array of socially-acquired ideas nevertheless. Let’s consider how mathematics is similar to consciousness.

First, like mathematics, consciousness is acquired culturally; it is not a direct consequence of evolutionary forces. There is nothing innate about it. The capabilities that constitute consciousness are transmitted via socialization, not genetically, and therefore they must be re-enculturated anew for each generation. Consciousness is a constellation of culturally-acquired skills. ...

The Julian Jaynes Society interview series continues on Saturday, March 20th. Geared toward those already familiar with Jaynes's theory, we'll be going beyond the basics and exploring a wide-range of topics related to Julian Jaynes’s theory with experts from a variety of different backgrounds. RSVP for this event:

March 20, 2021, 12pm Pacific Time
Boban Dedovic – The Evolution of Mind Words in the Iliad and the Odyssey
An interview with Boban Dedovic, who is currently studying ancient languages at the University of Chicago. We'll be taking a deep dive into Jaynes's ancient Greek preconscious hypostases and looking at the new evidence for the evolution of mind words in the Iliad and Odyssey. The interview will be followed by Q&A with the event participants.

Read Boban Dedovic's article: ‘Minds’ in ‘Homer’: A quantitative psycholinguistic comparison of the Iliad and Odyssey

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Julian Jaynes
"Princeton University Radio Interview"
A must-listen for Jaynes enthusiasts!

Brian J. McVeigh
"Evidence for the Bicameral Mind in the Old Testament"
Julian Jaynes Society Interview Series
Watch the preview on YouTube

William Woodward
"The Life and Thought of Julian Jaynes After 1976" (full lecture)
Julian Jaynes Conference on Consciousness

Rabbi James Cohn
"A Jaynesian Philology: The Bible as a Written Record of the Dawn of Consciousness"
Julian Jaynes Society Conference on Consciousness and Bicameral Studies

Premieres on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 2:00 pm Pacific Time. Set a reminder and join us for live chat on YouTube during the premiere!

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