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There is _something_ that one can discover when they try psychedelics. It is a non-normal experience and so by definition will have novel data. Is it useful tho
by jasim 6y ago
There is _something_ that one can discover when they try psychedelics. It is a non-normal experience and so by definition will have novel data. Is it useful though? So many people couldn't have been flatly wrong (but they said that about religion) - so there could be something to it. One of that is the realization that our sensory inputs, how we process them, and also how we understand ourselves, the world, and the separateness of the self from everything around us - are not preordained. The way we look at all of them is not the only way. We think the way we think because we've evolved to it. What we see is not the objective reality; it is just a filter through which we perceive it. This experience can allow someone who's prepared for it, to break out of their own patterned ways of thinking.
But - there is a reason we've evolved to perceive reality in this way. It allows us to survive. Material concerns - health, wealth, status etc. and extractive consumption which messes up "nature", and having ego/identity distinct from nature -- all of this serve useful, vital purposes. A person who's constantly tripping will find it difficult to survive both in modern and ancient times long enough to propagate their genes.
People search for profundity in these experiences, and sure there are some. But to really understand the world and nature, I think the lens of science - observation, empiricism, and the scientific process is a better bet. There unfortunately really isn't anything _deeper_ about life. And whatever there is, personal introspection aided by psychedelics cannot hold a candle against organized human scientific endeavor.
Also, messing with one's brain is dangerous. It is one of the least understood human organs, irreplaceable, and fundamental to life like few other things.
- nnq 6y ago> messing with one's brain is dangerous Meh. I'd say we're likely stuck in a local optimum - the default programming of our brains is clearly not optimal for our state of evolution... our brains evolved for hunting and gathering clearly don't have good default programming for understanding and exploring the universe. Hope brain-computer-interfaces come soon and we can do more controlled hacks with those, but until then anything that can nudge our minds out of equilibrium / gradient-pit is great. And some side-effects (eg. small minority of people manifesting psychoses etc.) are a sign we're on the right track imo. Sure, we can try tweaking external factors, sprinkling in some wars, terrorism, pandemics, riots etc. to occasionally wake some people up, our benevolent true leaders, whoever they are, treat us with these at least... but I'd support more direct and less destructive alternatives :)
- tetris11 6y agoYou have no guarantee that the next drug-induced iteration will push you towards another local optimum though. If it redefines your current experiences, it could misattribute many things true positives you have learned throughout your life.
- spdionis 6y ago> One of that is the realization that our sensory inputs, how we process them, and also how we understand ourselves, the world, and the separateness of the self from everything around us - are not preordained. The way we look at all of them is not the only way. We think the way we think because we've evolved to it. What we see is not the objective reality; it is just a filter through which we perceive it. Yes, this is exactly the take away one should take in my opinion. Going into deep spiritual meaning about nature is a rabbit hole.