Altered states of consciousness: Natural gateway to an ecological civilization?
Peter Brace
Journal of Theoretical and Philosphical Psychology May 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1037/teo0000123 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Key points | Argues that altered states of consciousness induced by psychedelics may help correct dysfunctional thinking and contribute to a civilization more harmoniously integrated with nature, warranting greater recognition and interdisciplinary study. |
Abstract
An understanding of the roles of altered states of consciousness in disrupting entrenched and dysfunctional ways of thinking may give us hope for a correction to many of humanity's seemingly intractable problems. This article considers altered states induced via substances known as psychedelics at various levels of abstraction through the lenses of history, biology and botany, neurophysiology, psychology, and philosophy. The induction of these altered states in a therapeutic setting is already showing great promise for the treatment of certain psychological dysfunctions, but could a broader understanding of their effects help us to see how they might contribute to a civilization that is more focused on the harmonious integration of humanity with the rest of the natural world? Considering their pervasiveness across human cultures, as well as their deliberate induction by other species, their contribution to the development of Western philosophy, and their impact on the cognitive styles, processes, and deeply held views of individuals who have experienced them, the author calls for greater recognition of their positive potential and encourages a cautious but vigorous approach to further interdisciplinary study.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altered States of Consciousness | 1966 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Functional neuroanatomy of altered states of consciousness: The transient hypofrontality hypothesis | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Psychedelic Mystical Experience in the Human Encounter with Death | 1969 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| A neurophenomenological approach to non-ordinary states of consciousness: hypnosis, meditation, and psychedelics | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Hypnotic phenomena and altered states of consciousness: a multilevel framework of description and explanation | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |