Peter Sjöstedt-H - Morality, Psychedelics & Panpsychism
May 9, 2020
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Delve into topics like psychedelics, panpsychism, emergentism, mental causation, epiphenomenalism, materialism, and more. Explore the interconnectedness of Eastern and Western philosophies, morality, aesthetics, metaphysical journeys, mind-body relationship, evolutionary arguments, panpsychism, Whitehead's metaphysics, and psychedelics. Conclude with a light-hearted moment and social media exchange.
Teaching philosophy to children fosters critical thinking skills and ethical discussions from an early age.
Philosophical exploration should embrace uncertainty and alternative epistemic tools beyond traditional proofs.
Diverse philosophical perspectives like materialism, panpsychism, and emergentism offer different insights and pose unique challenges.
Psychedelic experiences can shift perceptions towards the unity of sensations rather than external objects, influencing metaphysical understanding.
Deep dives
Exploring Eastern Philosophy and Transition to Western Philosophy
The speaker discusses his early interest in Eastern philosophy due to exposure from his father and the limited availability of courses in the late 90s, leading to a transition to Western philosophy. The fascination with mystical consciousness concepts inspired by Eastern philosophy, such as distinguishing consciousness from the body, prompted his deeper dive into Western philosophy.
The Importance of Philosophy in Education
The lack of philosophy in schools is highlighted, with a mention of a local school introducing a philosophy session, revealing the absence of philosophical education on a broader scale. The discussion touches on the significance of teaching basic philosophical concepts to children and the potential value in fostering critical thinking and ethical discussions at an early age.
Exploring Metaphysical Questions and Skepticism
The conversation delves into metaphysical questions, including the challenges of reconciling different philosophical views such as materialism and panpsychism. The concept of proof and epistemological limitations are highlighted, emphasizing the acceptance of uncertainty and the need for alternative epistemic tools beyond traditional proofs.
Debating Materialism, Panpsychism, and Emergentism
The debate between materialism, panpsychism, and emergentism is explored, with emphasis on the limitations of each perspective. The dialogue discusses the challenges posed by emergentism in explaining the abrupt transition from matter to mind, along with the complexities surrounding emergence in general. The speaker navigates the intricacies of these philosophical positions, highlighting the need for continued exploration and the recognition of epistemological constraints.
Explanation of Different Forms of Sentience and Perception
Different forms of sentience and perception were discussed, highlighting how psychedelic experiences can alter one's connection to the objects perceived, leading to a shared identity with the sensations experienced rather than the external objects themselves. The concept of ingression was explored, where separate instances of sentience combine into societies through absorption and unite into a single unity.
Metaphysics and Psychedelic Experiences
The relationship between metaphysics and psychedelic experiences was analyzed, revealing how psychedelic journeys can align with white-headian metaphysics. The discussion delved into eternal objects and the expansion of qualia in psychedelic states, offering a broader range of sensory experiences beyond typical human perception.
On Mystical Experiences and Pathways to Enlightenment
The conversation extended to mystical experiences and their relation to pathways to enlightenment, drawing parallels between psychedelic peaks and the process of meditation and contemplation in classical practices like Buddhism. The peaks of meditation leading to ego loss and contemplation to unity with the universe were compared to the mystical experiences induced by psychedelics, prompting a deeper reflection on the diverse states of consciousness and their potential implications for metaphysical understanding.
For our first episode, the guest was Peter Sjöstedt-H, a philosopher of mind with a special interest in metaphysics and meta-ethics based on Whitehead and Nietzsche. He is currently doing a Ph.D. on the topic of panpsychism. In this podcast, we discuss psychedelics, panpsychism, emergentism, mental causation, epiphenomenalism, materialism, and more.
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