Altered Minds
February 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1017/9781009749138 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the human quest for altered states, from ancient psychoactive rituals to AI and virtual reality, has shaped cognition, culture, governance, and identity, and proposes that regulating controlled substances parallels the addictive dynamics of emerging technologies. Introduces "symbolic entropy" and "recursive regulation" as concepts for interpreting present crises and anticipating future transformations. |
Abstract
This book presents a groundbreaking exploration of humanity's quest for altered states, from ancient psychoactive rituals to immersive AI and virtual reality, and examines their continued impact on cognition, culture, governance, and identity. Drawing on decades of global fieldwork and interdisciplinary research, Dr Sheldon Lee Gosline traces compelling connections between the regulation of controlled substances and the addictive dynamics of emerging technologies. Readers are challenged to move beyond binaries of legality and pathology and discover how symbols, rituals, and imagination have long mediated our understanding of self and reality. Bridging anthropology, neuroscience, philosophy, and the history of medicine, chapters introduce innovative concepts such as symbolic entropy and recursive regulation to interpret present crises and anticipate future transformations. A must-read for scholars, policymakers, and curious readers alike, the volume offers a powerful lens through which to understand the evolving future of consciousness in the digital age.