Consciousness Is a Cultural Add-on | Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind Podcast

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 (⁠https://⁠⁠www.theungoogleable.com⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠https://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

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Learn more about Julian Jaynes's theory or become a member by visiting the Julian Jaynes Society at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.julianjaynes.org⁠⁠⁠⁠.