What theory of mind best explains the human propensity

Question

What theory of mind best explains the human propensity to posit hidden
beings like gods, ghosts and other metaphysical realities?

TutorBin · Accepted Answer

Bicameral Mind theory
The theory of mind best explaining the human propensity to posit hidden beings like gods, ghosts and other metaphysical realities is the Bicameral Mind theory, proposed by Dr Jaynes. This theory states that in early human civilization, around 3000 B.C., human beings had a mentality that was split into two parts: a decision-making part and a follower part, with neither part being conscious in the sense that we understand it today. The decision-making part was represented by auditory hallucinations, which were referred to as gods. These hallucinations were heard by everyone and were immediately obeyed, providing direction and guidance for everyday life.
Jaynes argues that this bicameral mind is the origin of gods and religious practices in early human history. According to this theory, the gods were auditory hallucinations, and religious practices were centered around obtaining direction and guidance from these hallucinations. The theory suggests that early human beings experienced these auditory hallucinations as real and powerful entities, leading to the development of religious beliefs and practices.
The theory also suggests that consciousness developed sometime between 50,000 years ago and the present, as the earliest forms of language and tool-making date back to around 50,000 years ago. Jaynes argues that the development of consciousness, which gave rise to introspection and self-awareness, led to the breakdown of the bicameral mind and the emergence of new ways of decision-making, such as divination and astrology.
The bicameral mind theory also suggests a neurological model for the bicameral mind, which posits that the right hemisphere of the brain was responsible for the auditory hallucinations, while the left hemisphere was responsible for the follower part. Jaynes argues that the reason speech and language function are usually located in the areas of the left hemisphere in today's people is because the corresponding areas of the right hemisphere once had another function.

What theory of mind best explains the human propensity to posit hidden

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