Julian Jaynes Society Wiki

A knowledge base for Julian Jaynes's theory.

About Julian Jaynes

Introduction to Julian Jaynes's Theory

Hypothesis One: Consciousness Is Based on Language

• Metaphrands, Metaphiers, Paraphrands, and Paraphiers
• Preconscious Hypostases: The Precursors of Mental Language

Hypothesis Two: Bicameral Mentality

• Hallucinations as a Side Effect of Language Comprehension
• The Origins of Bicamerality Are in the Internalization of Communicative Acts
• Names Recreate a Person’s Presence
• Kings, Tombs, and Voices from the Grave
• Personal Gods

Hypothesis Three: Dating the Transition from Bicameral Mentality to Consciousness

• The Inherent Instability of Bicameral Kingdoms and Their Collapse
• Trade and Exchange Eventually Weakened the Bicameral Order
• Migration, Chaos, Conquest
• Positing Internal Differences as the Cause of Consciousness
• Writing Undermined Divine Authority
• Narratization in Epics
• The Origin of the Analog “I” in Deceit
• Natural Selection

Hypothesis Four: The Neurological Model for Bicameral Mentality

• The Neurological Basics of Speech
• Evidence Supporting Bicameral Neurology
• “Hardware” versus “Software”

Modern Relevance

• Vestiges of Bicameral Mentality
• Understanding Mental Illness and Hearing Voices
• Encouraging conscious thought expansion and teaching consciousness

Critiques and Controversies

Legacy and Influence

Glossary of Jaynesian Terms

Additional Resources