Bicameral Mentality in Ancient Mesopotamia: A Deep Dive Discussion

Bicameral Mentality in Ancient Mesopotamia: A Deep Dive Discussion

A deep dive discussion delving into the evidence for bicameral mentality in ancient Mesopotamia, building on Julian Jaynes's chapter "A Change of Mind in Mesopotamia" by drawing upon a wide range of scholarly sources, including works by Marcel Kuijsten, Brian J. McVeigh, Jean Bottéro, Henri Frankfort, Thorkild Jacobsen, H.W.F. Saggs, A. Leo Oppenheim, S.H. Hooke, Martti Nissinen, William Harris, Mircea Eliade, and others.

Produced by Marcel Kuijsten. Introduction read by Michael R. Jacobs (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theungoogleable.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@VoidDenizen ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).

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

Subscribe to the "Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind" podcast wherever you enjoy podcasts.

Contents:
00:00 - Introduction
02:57 - Jaynes's Core Claims Regarding Mesopotamia
04:53 - What Are Jaynes's Strongest Arguments?
07:42 - Picturing Bicameral Life in Ancient Mesopotamia
09:53 - How Does Additional Research Support Jaynes's Ideas?
16:09 - Support for Jaynes's Neurological Model
20:25 - Implications for Daily Life In Ancient Mesopotamia
24:30 - The Role of Idols
27:26 - Household Gods
28:49 - Bicameral Decision-making
30:06 - The Role of Prophecy
33:10 - The Role of Dreams
37:00 - The Role of Divination
38:37 - Monumental Architecture and Public Rituals
42:16 - Externalized Aspects of Bicameral Mentality
43:48 - Imagining Bicameral Mentality in Ancient Mesopotamia
47:12 - Implications for Modern Concepts Such As Guilt and Morality
48:29 - A World Full of Messages
49:49 - Hierarchy and Social Cohesion of Bicameral Mentality
50:42 - The Breakdown of Bicameral Mentality
52:37 - The Shift to Modern Consciousness
53:50 - Scientific Validation of Jaynes's Theory
55:37 - Challenging Dominant Paradigms
57:55 - Final Thoughts