Andres Gomez-Emilsson, Director of Research of the Qualia Research Institute, discusses various theories on qualia, including mathematical fictionalism and the symmetry of valence theory. He also explores neural annealing in psychedelic therapy and suggests anti-tolerance medications to reduce suffering. The podcast delves into sacred geometry, the impact of psilocybin on mental health, and the use of opiates for chronic pain relief. Additionally, it explores the potential benefits of chronolidine as a mood and motivation booster, and touches on subtle drugs, financing paradigms, and quantum consciousness.
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insights INSIGHT
Mathematical Fictionalism
Andres Gomez-Emilsson argues against mathematical Platonism, proposing that mathematical objects don't exist independently.
Instead, experiencing a triangle involves flashes of attention in a field of awareness, creating an illusion.
insights INSIGHT
Sacred Geometry and Neural Annealing
Sacred geometry can induce blissful experiences, but its metaphysical interpretations are often misleading.
These experiences are neural annealing, smoothing out the geometry of experience and improving its quality.
question_answer ANECDOTE
MDMA Sacrament
Alexander Shulgin was invited to a drug-free retreat in Brazil where a sacrament induced feelings of love and connection.
Analysis revealed the sacrament contained MDMA, highlighting the potential for manipulation through induced experiences.
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In episode 32 of the quantum consciousness series, Justin Riddle interviews Andres Gomez-Emilsson, the director of research of the Qualia Research Institute. Andres is passionate about understanding qualia, which is the feeling and quality of subjective experience. In this interview, we discuss many of Andres’ theories: mathematical fictionalism, symmetry of valence theory, neural annealing as it pertains to psychedelic therapy, and antitolerance medications to reduce suffering. First up, we discuss the nature of qualia and whether or not there can be a universal mathematical description of subjective experience. Andres posits that the experience of having a thought should not be confused with the thought itself. Therefore, any attempt at mathematical description will be wrapped up within the experience of the person suggesting the mathematics. As he states, mathematics is as real as the Lord of the Rings, a great story that we can tell, but not to be confused with reality itself. Next up, we discuss his symmetry of valence theory which describes that the imagination of certain geometric patterns imbues a sense of well-being whereas other patterns are anxiogenic. The geometric patterns that lead to positive valence (positive emotional experiences) are those shapes recognized as sacred geometry. However, Andres cautions that because these “sacred” geometric shapes generate well-being, people have used this reproducible experience to peddle New Age metaphysics. We should be cautious of the ability to generate positive experience as it can be used to manipulate people into buying into particular belief systems. Third, we discuss recent findings that single dose psilocybin in a therapeutic context can produce a lasting reduction in symptoms of depression. Andres posits that this could be explained as a form of neural annealing. The mind “heats up” and breaks through discordant neural pathways and through neural plasticity during the psychedelic experience will allow for the formation of new neural pathways with higher resonant properties consistent with positive valence. This contributes to Andres’ overall ontological model of reality in which the universe is a unified field of experience that is pinched off into individuals. Here, he starts with an unbroken unity of all things that is topologically segmented into individuals. Finally, Andres is a devout hedonist with the long-term goal of reducing suffering. His group at the Qualia Research Institute is investigating medications that reduce adaptation to molecules over long-term use. Go check out Andres’ YouTube channel and the Qualia Research Institute website!
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