Margaret Mead, an influential anthropologist, delves into the realms of psychedelic research, connecting scientific communities interested in exploring computer science, neurology, and consciousness. Joined by science professor Benjamin Breen and Lux Capital's Sam Arbesman, they explore Mead's work and the historical context of psychedelics post-World War II, shedding light on indigenous traditions, societal transformations, and the intersection of science, social history, and maps.
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Quick takeaways
Margaret Mead bridged neuroscience, computer science, and consciousness through psychedelic research.
Mead's predictive cultural insights and controversy in Samoan research showcased her futurist perspective.
Mead's exploration of psychedelics merged indigenous knowledge with modern scientific developments in AI.
Deep dives
Margaret Mead's Influence Across Fields and Psychedelic Research Connections
Margaret Mead's vast influence extended beyond anthropology, intersecting with various fields, including psychedelic research. She participated in a circle of scientists exploring psychedelics, which intertwined computer science, neurology, and consciousness fields. Her early work in psychedelic research had implications for modern computer science developments.
Margaret Mead's Pioneering Work in Anthropology and Controversy
Margaret Mead's foundational work in cultural anthropology revolutionized the field, culminating in her renowned book, 'Coming of Age in Samoa.' Despite her brilliance and productivity, she faced controversy over alleged inaccuracies in her research attributing unique behavioral traits to Samoans. Mead's ability to foresee cultural trends, like the impact of space exploration, showcased her futurist perspective.
Margaret Mead's Role in Psychedelic Therapy and Cultural Context of Psychedelics
Margaret Mead's progressive views on altered states of consciousness led her to study psychedelic substances like peyote and LSD. Her involvement in LSD research in the 1950s aligned with a broader cultural exploration of psychedelics. The historical significance of psychedelic traditions predates modern research, merging indigenous knowledge with Western scientific developments.
Margaret Mead's Involvement in Cybernetics and Early Computing Advances
Margaret Mead's forward-thinking approach extended to early data collection methods resembling modern computing practices. Engaging in intensive data recording, she anticipated the role of computers in processing vast amounts of information. Her collaborations with pioneering figures in information theory and computing laid the groundwork for future advancements in artificial intelligence.
The CIA's Involvement in Psychedelic Research and Margaret Mead's Work
The CIA's covert funding and influence in psychedelic research, notably through figures like George Hunter White, intertwined with Margaret Mead's social circle. Connections between the Macy circle and CIA initiatives highlighted the complex interplay between government agendas and scientific pursuits. Paranoia surrounding Cold War tensions shaped public perceptions of psychedelics and hindered their transformative potential.
Exploration of End-of-the-World Concepts and Future Book Projects
Ben Breen's future book projects delve into contrasting themes, from exploring technological apocalypses to studying William James' involvement in paranormal research. Analyzing the shift from traditional religious to technological apocalypse narratives reveals early influences on the modern perception of world-ending scenarios. By examining historical figures like James within paranormal investigations, Breen uncovers pivotal moments in the development of modern science.
How does science progress? One way to look at the question is to peer into individual fields and observe the flow of ideas from laboratories and experiments into seminars and conferences and ultimately into the journal record. But the reality is so much more complicated since science is truly a creative act, a set of imaginative leaps from incumbent ways of thinking to new possibilities. The milieu that scientists inhabit — and particularly science’s most productive leaders — is often far more expansive than one would expect.
That’s the story today with Margaret Mead and the rise of psychedelic research. Best known as a cultural anthropologist, Mead spanned the sciences, from information theory into the humanities. That range brought her into regular contact with brilliance, and also helped her transmit vital ideas and concepts from field to field. One of the circles she participated in was an emerging group of scholars conceptualizing ideas around computer science, neurology and consciousness, linked together by a curiosity around psychedelics within the paranoia of Cold War politics.
We cover Margaret Mead’s early work, her popularization of science, the Macy conference circles that brought disparate networks of scientists together in New York City, the utopian dream of science in the 1920s and 1930s recently depicted in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer movie, the rise of LSD and finally, why there were so many interconnections between these scientists and defense institutions like the CIA.
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