Bicameral Mentality in Ancient Mesopotamia: A Deep Dive Discussion

A deep dive discussion delving into the evidence for bicameral mentality in ancient Mesopotamia, building on Julian Jaynes's chapter "A Change of Mind in Mesopotamia" by drawing upon a wide range of scholarly sources.

Produced by Marcel Kuijsten. Introduction read by Michael R. Jacobs (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theungoogleable.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@VoidDenizen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).

Read the transcript: https://www.julianjaynes.org/2025/07/30/bicameral-mentality-in-ancient-mesopotamia/

Learn more about Julian Jaynes's theory or become a member by visiting the Julian Jaynes Society at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.julianjaynes.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind: A Deep Dive Book Discussion

A deep dive discussion delving into the book "Conversations on Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind: Interviews with Leading Thinkers on Julian Jaynes's Theory."

This book is highly recommended for those new to Julian Jaynes and long time Jaynes enthusiasts alike:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1737305534/

Introduction read by Michael R. Jacobs (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theungoogleable.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@VoidDenizen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).

Learn more about Julian Jaynes's theory or become a member by visiting the Julian Jaynes Society at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.julianjaynes.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Contents:

00:00 - Introduction

03:12 - Resistance to New Ideas

03:52 - Defining Consciousness

09:40 - Consciousness and Language Part 1

13:38 - When Consciousness Developed

16:39 - Comparing the Iliad and the Odyssey

18:30 - The Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind

19:35 - Vestiges of Bicameral Mentality

19:59 - Hearing Voices

24:02 - The Feeling of a Sensed Presence

25:18 - Hypnosis

27:58 - Creative Inspiration

28:40 - The Evolution of Religion

30:28 - Spirit Possession

30:54 - Cave Art

31:25 - Seeking External Authorization

32:18 - Consciousness and Language Part 2

35:55 - Jaynes's Neurological Model

41:17 - Implications of the Theory

45:20 - The Future of Consciousness

47:00 - Concluding Remarks

Consciousness and Bicameral Mentality: A Deep Dive Discussion Exploring Nearly Every Aspect of Julian Jaynes's Theory

A fascinating, deep dive discussion that provides an in-depth exploration of nearly every aspect of Julian Jaynes's theory of the origin of consciousness and an earlier mentality he called the bicameral mind.

Highly recommended for those new to Julian Jaynes and long time Jaynes enthusiasts alike!

Read the transcript: https://www.julianjaynes.org/2025/06/08/consciousness-and-bicameral-mentality/

Produced by Camille Tillier and Marcel Kuijsten. Introduction read by Michael R. Jacobs (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theungoogleable.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@VoidDenizen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).

Learn more about Julian Jaynes's theory or become a member by visiting the Julian Jaynes Society at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.julianjaynes.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Contents:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:02:51 - Jaynes's Core Claims

00:03:22 - The Origin of Consciousness

00:10:40 - Bicameral Mentality

00:17:52 - Wide-Ranging Implications

00:27:42 - Literary Evidence: Ancient Greece

00:32:50 - Literary Evidence: Mesopotamia

00:38:55 - Literary Evidence: Ancient Egypt

00:41:00 - Archeological Evidence

00:45:02 - Neurological Evidence

00:48:00 - What It Was Like to Be Bicameral

00:52:03 - Absence of Deception and Morality

00:57:21 - The Causes of Consciousness

01:03:06 - Bicameral Vestiges: Omens

01:06:18 - Bicameral Vestiges: Angels and Genii

01:07:43 - Bicameral Vestiges: Oracles and Divination

01:10:37 - Bicameral Vestiges: Tourette Syndrome and Glossolalia

01:11:24 - Bicameral Vestiges: Poetry and Music

01:14:42 - Bicameral Vestiges: Hypnosis

01:17:46 - Bicameral Vestiges: Schizophrenia

01:20:54 - Bicameral Vestiges: Imaginary Companions

01:21:57 - Bicameral Vestiges: Totalitarian States

01:23:12 - New Evidence for Jaynes's Theory

01:30:23 - Profound Implications: Consciousness

01:32:16 - Profound Implications: Religion

01:33:12 - Profound Implications: The Nature of Reality

01:33:55 - Profound Implications: The Human Condition

01:35:25 - Concluding Remarks and the Future of Consciousness