One of my favourite insights from the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer relates to the human negativity bias, that is, our tendency to focus on what bothers us. As he writes: Just as a brook forms no eddy so long as it meets with no obstructions, so human nature, as well as animal, is such that…
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During or after intense psychedelic experiences – typically elicited by taking a high dose, or a synergistic drug combination – one may find oneself in a state known as ontological shock. This is when reality, or one’s experience of reality, has been transformed so profoundly that it induces a visceral feeling of shock. However, this…
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An out-of-body experience (OBE) is an altered state of consciousness in which someone feels their conscious awareness has left the confines of their physical body, able to perceive the outside world from a different vantage point. During an OBE, it is common for people to report seeing their body from a distance or to be…
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Nowadays, it seems the title ‘philosopher’ is applied quite liberally. For instance, some fans of Jordan Peterson think he’s a philosopher (and even one of the greatest modern philosophers). This is despite the fact that he’s never claimed to be one, his training is as a psychologist, and he misunderstands and mischaracterises philosophers and philosophical…
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One of the characteristics of the psychedelic mystical experience is the noetic quality: the feeling of profound insight (this is the focus of Chapter 2 in my book Altered Perspectives). This type of insight is felt to be authoritative, that is, an incontrovertible revelation. However, insights that carry an authoritative truth can occur in non-mystical…
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