Julian Jaynes
Born in 1920
julianjaynes.org
History
Psychology
Julian Jaynes was an American psychologist known for his groundbreaking and controversial book on the origin of consciousness.
He proposed that human consciousness emerged around 1200 BCE as a cultural development based on metaphorical language.
Before this, Jaynes argued, humans operated with a "bicameral mind" where hallucinated voices guided behavior.
His theory suggests that vestiges of this earlier mentality still exist in modern times.
Jaynes defined consciousness more narrowly than some philosophers, focusing on meta-awareness or thoughts about thinking.
Despite criticism, his work continues to influence discussions on consciousness, psychology, and human history.
