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by Moderator
Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:34 am
Forum: 3.0. Hypothesis Three: Dating the Development of Consciousness
Topic: J. Weissman on the Evidence for Bicamerality in the Iliad
Replies: 0
Views: 16291

J. Weissman on the Evidence for Bicamerality in the Iliad

I recently re-read Judith Weissman's discussion of the evidence for bicamerality in the Iliad and the Odyssey (in "Of Two Minds: Poets Who Hear Voices") and I thought some of the main points were worth summarizing here for discussion: 1. The legend of the Iliad was recited orally for centu...
by Moderator
Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:32 am
Forum: 2.3. Hypothesis Two: The Bicameral Mind | Subtopic: Hypnosis, Possession & Altered States of Consciousness
Topic: "Divided Consciousness" by Ernest Hilgard
Replies: 8
Views: 35640

"Divided Consciousness" by Ernest Hilgard

If you can get a hold of a used copy or find it at the library (it's out of print), I recommend reading Ernest Hilgard's Divided Consciousness: Multiple Controls in Human Thought and Action . It's a great book on hypnosis by the famous Stanford professor (an early reviewer of Jaynes), and topics dis...
by Moderator
Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:47 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: How to Explain Jaynes to Your Mother-in-Law
Replies: 9
Views: 28966

Hi Erik, I enjoyed your summary. An approach I've taken recently has been to explain Jaynes's theory in terms of his four main ideas: 1. Consciousness based on language 2. Dating consciousness to the end of the 2nd millenium B.C. 3. The idea of a prior mentality known as the bicameral mind 4. Jaynes...
by Moderator
Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:25 pm
Forum: Book Discussion: The Origin of Consciousness and Julian Jaynes Society Publications
Topic: Reflections Ch. 3 - Verbal Hallucinations & Preconscious Mentality
Replies: 15
Views: 60844

I think over the next decade we will see great advances in our understanding of the neurobiology of hallucinations. Several recent studies mentioned in Ch. 4 implicate the right temporal-parietal lobe as Jaynes suggested. The fact that patients with temporal lobe epilepsy often have both hallucinati...
by Moderator
Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:49 pm
Forum: Book Discussion: The Origin of Consciousness and Julian Jaynes Society Publications
Topic: Reflections Ch. 3 - Verbal Hallucinations & Preconscious Mentality
Replies: 15
Views: 60844

I think the underlying question here is what is the function or cause of hallucinations in general? If they are indeed a vestige of the bicameral mind, then it makes sense that they can be elicited in a wide variety of ways, including temporal lobe epilepsy, what we now call schizophrenia, and among...
by Moderator
Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:52 pm
Forum: Book Discussion: The Origin of Consciousness and Julian Jaynes Society Publications
Topic: Reflections Ch. 2 - The Ghost of a Flea: Visions of William Blake
Replies: 6
Views: 31279

Yes I remember being assigned that poem as well and thinking more or less the same thing. Regarding Jaynes's comment that Blake was not schizophrenic, I also found that intereresting. I suppose Jaynes meant that in Blake's time, prior to anti-psychotic medication, most schziophrenics were unable to ...
by Moderator
Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:37 pm
Forum: Book Discussion: The Origin of Consciousness and Julian Jaynes Society Publications
Topic: Reflections Ch. 9 - The Oracles and Their Cessation
Replies: 7
Views: 30624

Hi Mark, It's great to see you catching these points of error made by Stove so quickly (after just a skim). I was tempted to footnote them but decided to leave his chapter untouched (Stove is deceased). I felt his thoughts in favor of the theory made it worth including despite some of his misconcept...
by Moderator
Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:39 am
Forum: 2.1. Hypothesis Two: The Bicameral Mind | Subtopic: Auditory Hallucinations in Normal Adults
Topic: Washington Post Article on Hearing Voices (Jan. 15, 2007)
Replies: 1
Views: 18148

That was interesting, thank you. The lack of awareness (or "insight") of their illness is one of the most interesting aspects of schizophrenia, and seeing all of the different causes people attribute their auditory hallucinations to. Let us know if you hear back from the author.
by Moderator
Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:00 am
Forum: 3.0. Hypothesis Three: Dating the Development of Consciousness
Topic: "The Discovery of the Mind" by Bruno Snell
Replies: 5
Views: 29549

Thanks Mark for those recommendations. I've heard of the Onians book before but I can't remember where. I'll be sure to read it...
by Moderator
Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:57 am
Forum: 2.0. Hypothesis Two: The Bicameral Mind
Topic: Conscious "Gods"?
Replies: 10
Views: 35555

It's nice to see someone thinking about these ideas in new and creative ways. For the moment I'll just add the brief comment that interestingly consciousness seems to be somehow linked to the dominant language hemisphere in that split brain patients have no awareness of directions given to their rig...
by Moderator
Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:38 am
Forum: 1.0. Hypothesis One: Consciousness Based On Language
Topic: What "Is" Consciousness?
Replies: 8
Views: 32697

Yes split brain patients are indeed still conscious. What seems to happen is a sort of "dual consciousness" for a period of time after the operation, with each hemisphere acting somewhat independently, but with the actions of the right hemisphere feeling to the patient something like an al...
by Moderator
Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:33 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Welcome / Introductions
Replies: 35
Views: 92624

Welcome Mark!

Sounds interesting, I'll take a look at your blog...
by Moderator
Tue Dec 26, 2006 8:14 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: New Member, Neurologist
Replies: 3
Views: 17689

Thank you for your interesting post. I bought Dawkins new book a week or so ago but have not had a chance to read it yet. I'm looking forward to seeing what he has to say about Jaynes and perhaps following up with him. I'll be interested to read the other books you've recommended as well, and will f...
by Moderator
Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:23 pm
Forum: 2.1. Hypothesis Two: The Bicameral Mind | Subtopic: Auditory Hallucinations in Normal Adults
Topic: Realignment of Priorities
Replies: 8
Views: 34403

Why is it that most people gain from hallucinations, but in the treatment of schizophrenia (by psychiatrists in particular) absence of hallucinations is the benchmark of progress? I think you are making a bit of a leap when you say that "most" people gain from hallucinations. It might be ...
by Moderator
Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:06 pm
Forum: 2.5. Hypothesis Two: The Bicameral Mind | Subtopic: Schizophrenia
Topic: What about Multiple Personality Disorder?
Replies: 3
Views: 21902

It's an interesting subject, I think you are on the right track. I recently read a book called Of Two Minds: The Revolutionary Science of Dual-Brain Psychology . In a nutshell the author, a Harvard psychiatrist, looks at the well documented evidence of two minds in split-brain patients (one in each ...

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