

267 | Benjamin Breen on Margaret Mead, Psychedelics, and Utopia
20 snips Feb 26, 2024
Benjamin Breen, an associate professor of history at UC Santa Cruz and author of "Tripping on Utopia," dives into the intriguing connections between Margaret Mead, psychedelic drugs, and concepts of utopia. He discusses Mead's pioneering work in social anthropology, her collaborations with Gregory Bateson, and how their ideas shaped societal views on psychedelics. Breen also explores the moral complexities faced by scientists during the Cold War and examines the potential of psychedelics for enhancing creativity and consciousness.
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Pre-Psychedelic Era
- The term "psychedelic" wasn't coined until 1957.
- Before that, discussions about these substances lacked a unifying term.
William James and Nitrous Oxide
- William James, an early psychologist, experimented with nitrous oxide.
- He found it gave him a false sense of insight, not genuine understanding.
Mead's Vision
- Margaret Mead's work aimed to create a science of expanded consciousness.
- She believed science could help humans consciously shape their evolution.