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Julian Jaynes

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Essays on Julian Jaynes

2 essays

Jul 9, 2025ACX

Practically-A-Book Review: Byrnes on Trance

Scott reviews Steven Byrnes' work explaining how our perception of self and consciousness can flip between different models, similar to optical illusions, which explains phenomena like trance, hypnosis, and spiritual experiences.

28 min read 4,189 words

Jun 1, 2020SSC

Book Review: Origin Of Consciousness In The Breakdown Of The Bicameral Mind

Scott reviews Julian Jaynes' controversial theory that ancient people lacked consciousness and instead heard hallucinated voices of gods, critiquing some aspects while finding value in the idea of theory of mind as culturally constructed.

43 min read 6,641 words

ancient history anthropology book review