The Catalyst of Loss: Psychedelics and Midlife Reflection

Why don't more philosophers take psychedelic drugs seriously as a means of examining reality? Sean Illing talks with Justin Smith-Ruiu, professor of philosophy, whose recent essay "This Is a Philosopher on Drugs" tells of how experimenting with psilocybin and other substances led to a radical reevaluation of nearly everything in his life — including his views on the nature of reality. They discuss the roots of an alternative worldview in the thought of German polymath G.W. Leibniz, what it means to say — as Socrates does — that philosophy is "preparation for death," and why psychedelics aren't more often explored in contemporary philosophy.

Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area

Guest: Justin Smith-Ruiu, philosopher; author

References: 

• "This Is a Philosopher on Drugs" by Justin E.H. Smith (Wired; Mar. 7)
• Justin Smith-Ruiu's Hinternet (Substack)
• The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is by Justin E.H. Smith (Princeton; 2022)
• "The brutal mirror: What the psychedelic drug ayahuasca showed me about my life" by Sean Illing (Vox; Nov. 2, 2019)
• G.W. Leibniz, "The Monadology" (1714)
• René Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy (1641)
• Irrationality: A History of the Dark Side of Reason by Justin E.H. Smith (Princeton; 2019)
• Plato, Phaedo (for Socrates's claim that philosophy is preparation for death)
• Reality+ by David Chalmers (W.W. Norton; 2022)
• David Chalmers on The Gray Area (Jan. 10, 2022)
• Justin's review of David Chalmers: "The World as a Game" (Liberties, vol. 2 no. 4)
• "The Death of Ivan Ilych" by Leo Tolstoy (1886)
• How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan (Penguin; 2018)

Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of The Gray Area. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Support The Gray Area by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

This episode was made by: 

• Producer: Erikk Geannikis
• Engineer: Patrick Boyd
• Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices