Paging Julain Jaynes.....

Julian Jaynes’ theory of the bicameral mind, outlined in The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind (1976), proposes that ancient humans did not possess consciousness as we understand it today. Instead, they experienced a “bicameral” mental state, where the brain’s two hemispheres communicated in a way that externalized thoughts as auditory hallucinations, often perceived as the voices of gods or authoritative figures. These “voices” guided their actions, effectively serving as a form of external authority.

Jaynes argues that this structure was adaptive in early civilizations, as it provided a framework for societal organization and decision-making without self-reflective consciousness. However, as societies grew more complex and writing emerged, this system broke down, leading to the development of introspective consciousness and the need for external authority figures (e.g., kings, laws, or religious texts) to replace the hallucinated guidance.

This theory suggests that humans’ historical reliance on gods and hierarchical structures stems from a deep psychological need for authority to provide direction, rooted in our evolutionary past. Even in modern times, this need manifests in the form of leaders, ideologies, and institutions that fulfill the role once occupied by these “voices.”