5 ms·

> in our West African sample, they were more likely to describe them as morally good and causally powerful. Believing voices in our head are causally powerful

by KK7NIL 2y ago

> in our West African sample, they were more likely to describe them as morally good and causally powerful. Believing voices in our head are causally powerful (as in deities) really reminds me of the theory of consciousness appearing from the collapse of the bicameral mind. Here's a good introduction to this idea: https://youtu.be/lgnMyF-o0sQ https://youtu.be/lgnMyF-o0sQ

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
finnh 2y ago
Came here to say the same thing. Excellent book, a thought-provoking read for sure
AlbertCory 2y ago
The great thing about that book was: once you understood the title, you didn't really need to read the book.
- Suppafly 2y ago
  >The great thing about that book was: once you understood the title, you didn't really need to read the book. Seriously, it's something I've never thought about, but once you hear "The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind" you kinda know what the theory is and it makes sense.
  - jl6 2y ago
    The thesis seems understandable to me from the title, but I couldn’t tell you whether we should believe it or not. I assume the content of the book provides evidence and justification. I assume, because I haven’t read it either.
    - AlbertCory 2y ago
      I did read it. Also, a recent summary of "the world since Jaynes" (forgot the link) They did say that he had something there. AFAIK they didn't say that he spawned a whole field of research, though.
    - Suppafly 2y ago
      >but I couldn’t tell you whether we should believe it or not. I assume the content of the book provides evidence and justification I assume the same. It's just that there is something nice about a theory that basically tells you the core of what you need to know from the name of it.
      - AlbertCory 2y ago
        Hollywood dialog: "We're making a new movie. It's called 'Snakes on a Plane' " "Oh? What's it about?"
BobaFloutist 2y ago
Wait this guy's saying that humans weren't conscious prior to ~2000 BCE? That's at the very least quite an extraordinary claim.
- KK7NIL 2y ago
  It's an outsider view, but it is thought provoking, worth digesting. The mechanism and data (both historic and current) are more concrete than other theories of consciousness I'm aware of (although I'm no expert). Consciousness might not be as essential to the human experience as is generally believed now a days. What percentage of the day are we really engaged in conscious rational thought anyways? And is it really what makes us human, or do subconscious processes play a much bigger role in the human experience than reason?

by KK7NIL 2y ago

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

finnh 2y ago

Came here to say the same thing. Excellent book, a thought-provoking read for sure

AlbertCory 2y ago

The great thing about that book was: once you understood the title, you didn't really need to read the book.

Suppafly 2y ago
>The great thing about that book was: once you understood the title, you didn't really need to read the book. Seriously, it's something I've never thought about, but once you hear "The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind" you kinda know what the theory is and it makes sense.
- jl6 2y ago
  The thesis seems understandable to me from the title, but I couldn’t tell you whether we should believe it or not. I assume the content of the book provides evidence and justification. I assume, because I haven’t read it either.
  - AlbertCory 2y ago
    I did read it. Also, a recent summary of "the world since Jaynes" (forgot the link) They did say that he had something there. AFAIK they didn't say that he spawned a whole field of research, though.
  - Suppafly 2y ago
    >but I couldn’t tell you whether we should believe it or not. I assume the content of the book provides evidence and justification I assume the same. It's just that there is something nice about a theory that basically tells you the core of what you need to know from the name of it.
    - AlbertCory 2y ago
      Hollywood dialog: "We're making a new movie. It's called 'Snakes on a Plane' " "Oh? What's it about?"

BobaFloutist 2y ago

Wait this guy's saying that humans weren't conscious prior to ~2000 BCE? That's at the very least quite an extraordinary claim.

KK7NIL 2y ago
It's an outsider view, but it is thought provoking, worth digesting. The mechanism and data (both historic and current) are more concrete than other theories of consciousness I'm aware of (although I'm no expert). Consciousness might not be as essential to the human experience as is generally believed now a days. What percentage of the day are we really engaged in conscious rational thought anyways? And is it really what makes us human, or do subconscious processes play a much bigger role in the human experience than reason?