Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness: Julian Jaynes's Bicameral Mind Theory Revisited [Hardcover]

Marcel Kuijsten (Author, Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 19, 2007

HARDCOVER EDITION

Why are gods and idols ubiquitous throughout the ancient world? What is the relationship of consciousness and language? How is it that oracles came to influence entire nations such as Greece? If consciousness arose far back in human evolution, how can it so easily be altered in hypnosis and "possession"? Is modern schizophrenia a vestige of an earlier mentality? These are just some of the difficult questions addressed by Julian Jaynes's influential and controversial theory of the origin of subjective consciousness or the "modern mind." This book includes an in-depth biography of Julian Jaynes, essays by Jaynes, and the discussion and analysis of Jaynes's theory from a variety of perspectives such as clinical psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, anthropology, linguistics, and ancient history.

With chapters by Dr. Julian Jaynes, Dr. Michael Carr, Prof. Scott Greer, Dr. John Hamilton, Marcel Kuijsten, Prof. John Limber, Dr. Brian McVeigh, Prof. David Stove, June Tower, Prof. William Woodward, and a Foreword by Prof. Michael Persinger

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In this book Marcel Kuijsten and his colleagues have integrated a quintessential collection of original thoughts concerning Jaynes's concepts as well as some of Jaynes's original essays. I have rarely read a manuscript that so eloquently and elegantly examines a complex and pervasive phenomenon. The contributors of this volume have integrated the concepts of psychology, anthropology, archaeology, theology, philosophy, the history of science, and modern neuroscience with such clarity it should be considered an essential text for any student of human experience." -- From the Foreword by Dr. Michael A. Persinger, Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience, Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University

"New ideas that shake up the status of human beings relative to their world have never gone down easily, from Galileo to Darwin to Jaynes. Yet, over the past three decades, a dozen or so scholars have gambled their reputations on the possibility that Jaynes may be right. Gathered in this volume, their research provides hard data in support of Jaynes's claims. ... Such information holds the power to restore mystery and wonder to the world we thought we knew." --Julie Kane, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Dept. of Language & Communication, Northwestern State University

"... Offers insights into otherwise inexplicable aspects concerning the pharaoh Tutankhamun and dragon-motifs in Shang China ... Jaynes' theory merits in my view the reassessment by the scientific community urged in this volume." --Ilkka Kallio, Helsinki, Finland, in the Journal of Consciousness Studies

"An indispensable resource for ideas on consciousness, religion, and theory of ancient civilizations ... Interdisciplinary, insightful, provocative, in the original spirit of Jaynes' seminal work, The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, but goes well beyond mere support and evidence of that work." -- John Hainly, Dept. of Philosophy, Southern University

"A book which ... after 30 years and in light of new research and ideas, introduces again Jaynes's theory to a scientific world that, now, may be ready to accept it." --Roberto Bottini, Department of Human Sciences, University of Bergamo, Italy

"Gathering together both additional writings by Jaynes himself, along with thoughtful essays by scholars from a wide range of disciplines, the book both explores ways in which Jaynes's thought can be applied in specific fields of study and serves as a testimony to the centrality of the issue of consciousness to all fields of intellectual endeavor. This worthy sequel to Jaynes's original book has been a long time coming, but the wait has been worth it." ---- Theodore J. Remington, School of Arts & Sciences, University of Saint Francis

"Anyone who has read Jaynes s book should read Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness for a greater appreciation of the work. Whether one agrees in whole or part, it is a testament to Jaynes s research and work that this collection of essays in Reflections either agrees with him in total or does not find a great deal to dispute concerning his theories. In the thirty years since Origin was released a great deal of research has in the main proven the man to be remarkably prescient." -- John Holt, in California Literary Review

"Blending biography with analytical and critical discussions and evaluations, this volume presents a rounded picture of Jaynes as an individual and scholar, while not shrinking from controversial and difficult issues." -- Klaus J. Hansen, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Dept. of History, Queen's University, Ontario

"Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness is ... an accessible re-introduction to Julian Jaynes, whose wondrous and wonderful The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind first brought to public awareness the 'invisible mansion of all moods, musings, and mysteries ... the introcosm' that is consciousness." --Richard M. Restak, M.D., Clinical Professor of Neurology, George Washington Hospital University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences

About the Author

Marcel Kuijsten is Founder and Executive Director of the Julian Jaynes Society.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 446 pages
• Publisher: Julian Jaynes Society; 1st edition (January 19, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979074401
• ISBN-13: 978-0979074400
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #954,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Awaited and Worth the Wait, April 30, 2007

By 

Bruce Trinque (Amston, CT United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness: Julian Jaynes's Bicameral Mind Theory Revisited (Hardcover)

For three decades I have been enthralled by the ideas put forth in Julian Jaynes's "The Origin of Consciousness In the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind" and have been waiting in vain (until now) for a follow-up volume. "Reflections On the Dawn of Consciousness" is a collection of incisive essays by Julian Jaynes himself and by others, commenting on and extending his previously published work.

Even after thirty years I cannot say that I feel that I have fully accepted (or, perhaps, fully understood) all aspects of Jaynes's theories about the eruption of consciousness just a few millennia ago, but I do believe he provided a very strong case for the reality of the bicameral mind and its role in providing the auditory hallucinations which were interpreted as the voices of gods in ancient times. Kuijsten's book reinforces these points. Although "Reflections On the Dawn of Consciousness" could be read independently (and as an introduction to Jaynes's work), it will probably be most appreciated by those familiar with Jaynes's book. Neither volume provides what might be called "light reading," but both are intensely thought-provoking.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A commendable follow-up to "Origin of Consciousness", March 13, 2007

By 

Scott R. Driver (Tucson AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness: Julian Jaynes's Bicameral Mind Theory Revisited (Hardcover)

I particularly enjoyed the fairly detailed biographical information about J. Jaynes which was included in several of the essays. The technical essays aren't all necessarily accessible to everyone who's read and understood "Origin", though many are. Anyone fascinated and moved by "Origin" will find much of interest in this collection, though not everyone will find appeal in exactly the same things. I'd buy it again.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, well documented anthology, March 19, 2007

By 

John Hainly (Baton Rouge, LA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Reflections on the Dawn of Consciousness: Julian Jaynes's Bicameral Mind Theory Revisited (Hardcover)

An indispensible resource for ideas on consciousness, religion, and theory of ancient civilizations. Includes various authors including some important but lesser known articles by Julian Jaynes himself. Interdiscliplinary, insightful, provocative, in the original spirit of Jaynes' seminal work, The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, but goes well beyond mere support and evidence of that work. Contains profuse notes and bibliographies for each article.