Philosophy of Psychedelics - The Consciousness Library

The mechanisms of psychedelic therapy

Philosophy of Psychedelics August 1, 2021 Chris Letheby 2 citations

‘The mechanisms of psychedelic therapy’ presents arguments against three theories of psychedelic therapy. The Molecular Neuroplasticity Theory ascribes therapeutic benefits to an experience-independent molecular mechanism. This theory is undermined by the correlation between ‘mystical-type experiences’ and beneficial outcomes, which suggests that genuinely psychological mechanisms are involved....

DOI: 10.1093/med/9780198843122.003.0004 Psychedelic therapy Ego dissolution Psychedelic treatment Psychedelic medicine +14

On the need for a natural philosophy of psychedelics

Philosophy of Psychedelics August 1, 2021 Chris Letheby 1 citation

‘On the need for a natural philosophy of psychedelics’ provides a brief overview of the history of psychedelics in science and psychiatry, and a detailed review of recent evidence for their therapeutic and transformative efficacy. The chapter reviews clinical trials showing that one or two controlled psychedelic experiences can durably reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and addiction, and...

DOI: 10.1093/med/9780198843122.003.0002

Spirituality

Philosophy of Psychedelics August 1, 2021 Chris Letheby 1 citation

‘Spirituality’ examines the import of psychedelic evidence for the philosophical project of naturalising spirituality. This chapter argues that psychedelic research vindicates the claim that there are transformative experiences and practices that can legitimately be called ‘spiritual’ and are compatible with adherence to a naturalistic worldview. The existential transformation afforded by some...

DOI: 10.1093/med/9780198843122.003.0009

The phenomenology of psychedelic therapy

Philosophy of Psychedelics August 1, 2021 Chris Letheby 1 citation

‘The phenomenology of psychedelic therapy’ provides a selective overview of experiences commonly reported by those who take psychedelics in controlled and structured settings, such as clinical trials and religious rituals. The first half of this chapter reviews a variety of typical changes to perception and the sense of self. The second half reviews qualitative evidence concerning patients’...

DOI: 10.1093/med/9780198843122.003.0003 Entheogenic therapy Self-discovery Self-awareness Personal insight +4

Epistemology

Philosophy of Psychedelics August 1, 2021 Chris Letheby

‘Epistemology’ argues that controlled psychedelic administration can have significant epistemic benefits consistent with a naturalistic worldview. The most obvious candidate for propositional knowledge, or knowledge that, is psychodynamic insight into one’s previously unknown mental states. This chapter argues that such insights are probably often accurate, but cannot be trusted uncritically:...

DOI: 10.1093/med/9780198843122.003.0008

Resetting the brain

Philosophy of Psychedelics August 1, 2021 Chris Letheby

‘Resetting the brain’ examines the hypothesis that (i) large-scale neural networks become stuck in dysfunctional configurations in pathology, and (ii) psychedelics cause therapeutic benefits by disrupting these configurations, providing an opportunity to ‘reset’ the relevant networks into a healthier state. This chapter argues that this view is correct but limited; per Chapter 5, it needs to be...

DOI: 10.1093/med/9780198843122.003.0006

Conclusion

Philosophy of Psychedelics August 1, 2021 Chris Letheby

The ‘Conclusion’ summarises the main ideas of Philosophy of Psychedelics and makes some suggestions for future research. The first part of the chapter provides a chapter-by-chapter summary of the arguments of the book, and lists the various testable predictions that follow from these arguments. The second part suggests some other directions for future research, pointing to outstanding questions...

DOI: 10.1093/med/9780198843122.003.0010

Unbinding the self

Philosophy of Psychedelics August 1, 2021 Chris Letheby

‘Unbinding the self’ outlines the predictive self-binding account of psychedelic therapy introduced by Letheby and Gerrans (2017). On this account, the networks targeted by psychedelics integrate or ‘bind’ information from multiple sources into a hierarchical predictive model of the self. In pathological conditions, detrimental forms of self-modelling can become rigidly entrenched. By...

DOI: 10.1093/med/9780198843122.003.0007

The role of self-representation

Philosophy of Psychedelics August 1, 2021 Chris Letheby

‘The role of self-representation’ presents three lines of evidence in support of a simple hypothesis: the central mechanism of psychedelic therapy is the disruption and revision of mental representations of the self. One line of evidence connects experiences of ‘psychological insight’ to positive clinical outcomes, and the insights in question are often autobiographical in character. A second...

DOI: 10.1093/med/9780198843122.003.0005

Introduction

Philosophy of Psychedelics August 1, 2021 Chris Letheby

This Introduction outlines the central focus of Philosophy of Psychedelics: the therapeutic use of psychedelics in psychiatry and its apparent conflict with philosophical naturalism. The chapter briefly describes recent findings that controlled psychedelic administration can have lasting psychological benefits for healthy subjects and for psychiatric patients. It then cites evidence that these...

DOI: 10.1093/med/9780198843122.003.0001

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