08. Consciousness Is a Cultural Add-on
04/09/24 • 7 min
Consciousness Is a Cultural Add-on
A Product of History Not Reducible to Neurology, Conscious Interiority Is Like Mathematics
By Brian J. McVeigh
Read by Michael R. Jacobs (www.theungoogleable.com, www.youtube.com/@VoidDenizen).
When we hear the word “consciousness” many of us, in a knee-jerk manner, associate it with neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, or something physically inborn. We also link it to perceptual or cognitive processes that are non-historical and non-cultural. However, according to Jaynesian psychology, these are all misleading assumptions, since consciousness is not necessary for perception, learning, and reasoning. It is extra-genetic and a product of sociocultural forces and it entered the historical scene relatively recently, about three millennia ago. Indeed, as a culturally-configured form of knowledge, consciousness is closer to mathematics or other domains of learning. Consciousness is a very special form of knowledge, of course, but an array of socially-acquired ideas nevertheless. Let’s consider how mathematics is similar to consciousness.
Read the complete text from this episode here:
https://www.julianjaynes.org/blog/julian-jaynes-theory/consciousness-is-a-cultural-add-on/
Learn more about Julian Jaynes's theory or become a member by visiting the Julian Jaynes Society at www.julianjaynes.org.
Consciousness Is a Cultural Add-on
A Product of History Not Reducible to Neurology, Conscious Interiority Is Like Mathematics
By Brian J. McVeigh
Read by Michael R. Jacobs (www.theungoogleable.com, www.youtube.com/@VoidDenizen).
When we hear the word “consciousness” many of us, in a knee-jerk manner, associate it with neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, or something physically inborn. We also link it to perceptual or cognitive processes that are non-historical and non-cultural. However, according to Jaynesian psychology, these are all misleading assumptions, since consciousness is not necessary for perception, learning, and reasoning. It is extra-genetic and a product of sociocultural forces and it entered the historical scene relatively recently, about three millennia ago. Indeed, as a culturally-configured form of knowledge, consciousness is closer to mathematics or other domains of learning. Consciousness is a very special form of knowledge, of course, but an array of socially-acquired ideas nevertheless. Let’s consider how mathematics is similar to consciousness.
Read the complete text from this episode here:
https://www.julianjaynes.org/blog/julian-jaynes-theory/consciousness-is-a-cultural-add-on/
Learn more about Julian Jaynes's theory or become a member by visiting the Julian Jaynes Society at www.julianjaynes.org.
Previous Episode
07. Jaynesian Therapeutics and the Self-healing Mind: Part 2
Jaynesian Therapeutics and the Self-healing Mind: Part 2
Lessons from Hallucinations, Hypnosis, and Meditation
By Brian J. McVeigh
Read by Michael R. Jacobs (www.theungoogleable.com, www.youtube.com/@VoidDenizen).
In Part 1 we looked at how something we take for granted — consciousness — is actually an active ingredient that can aid in the repair of the mind for certain mental disorders. In this Part we explore how anomalous psychological experiences hold lessons for how consciousness relates to the self-healing mind. Various manifestations of mentality — ordinary consciousness, hallucinations, hypnosis, meditation — are like a colorful tapestry with different patterns but woven together with the same threads. The challenge is disentangling and isolating the threads so as to understand the psychological processes behind these phenomena, especially since this can help understand the therapeutic benefits of certain mental exercises.
Read the complete text from this episode here:
Learn more about Julian Jaynes's theory or become a member by visiting the Julian Jaynes Society at www.julianjaynes.org.
Next Episode
09. A Relay-Race Model of Conscious Interiority
A Relay-Race Model of Conscious Interiority
A Cultural Invention, Consciousness Needs to Be Relearned with Each Generation
By Brian J. McVeigh
Read by Michael R. Jacobs (www.theungoogleable.com, www.youtube.com/@VoidDenizen).
The word “consciousness” usually evokes something neuroanatomical, intimately bound up with perceptual experiences, an evolutionary psychological feature from our very distant past that is inherent to the brain itself. Consciousness for many seems to be a general term for any type of sensory, conceptual, or thinking process. This leads to muddled theorizing.
Read the complete text from this episode here:
https://www.julianjaynes.org/blog/julian-jaynes-theory/a-relay-race-model-of-conscious-interiority/
Learn more about Julian Jaynes's theory or become a member by visiting the Julian Jaynes Society at www.julianjaynes.org.
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/consciousness-and-the-bicameral-mind-the-julian-jaynes-society-podcast-434787/08-consciousness-is-a-cultural-add-on-59525615"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to 08. consciousness is a cultural add-on on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy