In this classic episode of Thinking Allowed (Season 2, Episode 5), we examine how the written word altered our minds. In imagery and the alphabet part 1 with leonard shlain, the late author presents a startling premise: the shift from goddess worship to patriarchal religions was driven by the cognitive impact of the alphabet.
This groundbreaking discussion on Leonard Shlain Thinking Allowed explores the alphabet vs the goddess theory, which links the rise of linear literacy to a massive cultural shift. Shlain explains how the transition from visual imagery vs linear literacy restructured the human brain, favoring left-brain analytical processing over right-brain holistic perception. By examining the impact of writing on human consciousness, he reveals how the rise of the written word coincided with the decline of feminine deities and the rise of patriarchy and the written word. This historical lens offers a profound look at left brain vs right brain dominance history and its continuing influence on modern society.
Throughout history, the introduction of the alphabet forced a cognitive reorganization. Before written text, human cultures relied heavily on visual imagery, which fostered a holistic, goddess-worshipping worldview. As linear reading became dominant, it stimulated the left hemisphere of the brain, promoting abstract, linear, and patriarchal modes of thought. Shlain traces this evolution, showing how the rise of literacy in the West historically aligned with periods of intense patriarchal control, such as the European witch hunts. Conversely, he suggests that the twentieth-century resurgence of visual media has begun to restore cognitive balance, paving the way for the rise of modern feminism.
Begin your exploration into the deep connections between language, gender, and human consciousness. Start watching this insightful episode of Thinking Allowed today on Gaia.
