Philosophy of Psychedelics with Dr Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes
My unofficial Vital Study Zine #6 with observations from Vital Psychedelic Training and recent happenings in the space
“The most exciting talk is the space right now is coming from philosophers,” said the 21st Century’s answer to David Attenborough, Merlin Sheldrake at June’s Breaking Convention conference in London.
Psychedelic philosophy or ‘psy-phi’ aims to legitimise psychedelic insight, the culture of consciousness expansion and post-industrial ideology.
The discipline applies academic rigour to tripped-out insight. It suggests how expanded consciousness can be applied in areas ranging from business to ecology – and revamp psychotherapy.
Fittingly, psychedelic philosophy’s origin is the West Country of England. The academic centre being Exeter University, which announced the first bachelor’s degree in psychedelic studies at its 2022 Philosophy of Psychedelics conference.
Other cosmopolitan hubs like Amsterdam and Berlin have got their eyes on our special cider. Exeter University’s much-anticipated compilation Philosophy and Psychedelics: Frameworks for Exceptional Experience, is published by Bloomsbury this summer. And its colourful co-editor Dr Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes materialised before Vital students this week, direct from Dartmoor.
Dr Sjöstedt-Hughes, who edited Exeter’s tome, is a leading light in the movement. The reboot of Marvel superhero Karnak is modelled on him. Beyond providing much needed aesthetic airs – he is rarely photographed without a falcon on his arm – he provides psychedelic philosophy’s imaginative spark.
“Humphry Osmond wrote to Huxley that he believed LSD’s greatest potential was its philosophical, social and religious implications,” he says, “I think the potential is still there.”
Dr Sjöstedt-Hughes has documented the rich relationship between philosophy and psychedelic use, and spearheaded the rehabilitation of controversial philosophers including Henri Bergson, Ernst Junger and Nietzsche alongside rebranding cuddlier thinkers like Spinoza, George Bernard Shaw and Sir Humphry Davy.
Dr Sjöstedt-Hughes of Exeter University’s acclaimed Philosophy of Psychedelics department, which announced the first bachelor’s degree in psychedelic studies at its 2022 Philosophy of Psychedelics conference.
His books Noumenautics and Modes of Sentience are out now from Psychedelic Press. Philosophy and Psychedelics: Frameworks for Exceptional Experience is available to preorder now and out 18 July 2022. Find him at philosopher.eu and @PeterSjostedtH.
You can watch Dr Sjöstedt-Hughes’ TED Talk on consciousness here plus a bunch more I put on this YouTube resource channel.
These five items I pulled from the week’s research are themed along Vital’s natural element-themed structure. Air provides an overview of psychedelic use, Fire concerns therapeutic applications, Water covers ‘space holding’ – the art of keeping it together, Earth is where you’ll find medical matters, and Ether discusses integration, the process of bringing psychedelic power into regular life. Click straight through to your pet subject below.
Next issue: Dr Rick ‘Spirit Molecule’ Strassman spares no set or setting in his evaluation of the space right now
“Social, ethical, legal and metaphysical issues can undergo a transformation akin to psychedelic therapy” says an inspiring new movement, with beards to match.