{"title": "Psychedelic Aesthetics: A Philosophical Theory of Perception in States of Transcendence", "website": "https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/philosophy-psychedelics/", "createdAt": 1722520932284, "credentials": {"twitter": {"type": ["VerifiableCredential"], "proof": {"jws": "eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSIsImNyaXQiOlsiYjY0Il0sImI2NCI6ZmFsc2V9..jFNkR9FXgMvMDHM11M5JQLEcweq5ceje-FYuZ-n0KqlyFeXL2H2sWGdVsVD1mefulTmGg28gP2kHbT-R3OfPCw", "type": "Ed25519Signature2018", "created": "2024-08-02T05:15:21.335Z", "proofPurpose": "assertionMethod", "verificationMethod": "did:key:z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC#z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC"}, "issuer": "did:key:z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC", "@context": ["https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1"], "issuanceDate": "2024-08-02T05:15:21.335Z", "expirationDate": "2024-10-31T05:15:21.335Z", "credentialSubject": {"id": "did:pkh:eip155:1:0xCA80Ef6F580f3dB9472a9F744998836d3Db936d3", "hash": "v0.0.0:QDEBOKIqlP6Chx6nJ+nIMA2vNNpqDlEoqIcg24ASF6E=", "@context": [{"hash": "https://schema.org/Text", "provider": "https://schema.org/Text"}], "provider": "ClearTextTwitter#eva__ginger"}}}, "description": "Psychedelic experiences are elusive, often referred to as ineffable, and their overwhelming complexity\u2014being exposed to bliss, horror, or anything in between\u2014is sublime. The resurgence of interest in psychedelia, as part of the ongoing Psychedelic Renaissance, is characterised by its single-sided focus on therapeutic and pharmaceutical benefits. However, interdisciplinary approaches that include the humanities are essential for a holistic understanding of the very nature of transcendental experiences. In addition, psychedelic states offer access to a realm of conscious experience, raising questions such as: what do these states reveal about our perception of the world, cognition, and, eventually, the nature of reality? The insufficiency of verbal narratives to approximate psychedelic experiences not only creates a significant obstacle for ongoing research and public discernment but also reveals the lack of a philosophical theory of psychedelic aesthetics.\nAs a PhD Candidate of the Philosophy and Psychedelics Exeter Research Group, I aim to fathom different modes of perception of psychedelic experiences and their specific qualities, such as the ineffable or the sublime. To originate a theory of psychedelic aesthetics, the development of a systematic framework will enable the characterisation of transcendental phenomena. By analysing different means of expression that attempt to replicate such experiences, i.e. artistic representations or informative reports, an approximation of the aesthetics and effects of psychedelic states can be initiated.\nWith a Master of Studies in History of Art and Visual Culture from the University of Oxford, and bachelor's degrees in architecture, German philology and art history, I obtained a deep understanding of how various disciplines cover different modes of expression to address existential questions of humanity. Thus, I bring the required interdisciplinary background for an endeavour that pushes the boundaries of traditional academic domains and combines the fields of philosophy, art theory, anthropology and psychedelic research. My path at the intersection of disciplines led me to stand up for the inclusion of the humanities, as well as unconventional practices such as psychedelic use, in scientific research and societal matters. The proposed research agenda unprecedentedly matches my expertise, personal values, interests, and passion.\nThe results of the dissertation may transcend their intellectual merit within academia and are intended to entail a broader societal impact: by making transcendental experiences more accessible, legitimate scepticism towards psychedelia can be addressed and potentially reduced. Further, as current research suggests, psychedelics are not only highly effective tools that offer the potential to positively impact our mental well-being but also enable us to study fundamental questions about the human experience itself.", "projectTwitter": "eva__ginger"}
Psychedelic Aesthetics: A Philosophical Theory of Perception in States of Transcendence
Psychedelic experiences are elusive, often referred to as ineffable, and their overwhelming complexity—being exposed to bliss, horror, or anything in between—is sublime. The resurgence of interest in psychedelia, as part of the ongoing Psychedelic Renaissance, is characterised by its single-sided focus on therapeutic and pharmaceutical benefits. However, interdisciplinary approaches that include the humanities are essential for a holistic understanding of the very nature of transcendental experiences. In addition, psychedelic states offer access to a realm of conscious experience, raising questions such as: what do these states reveal about our perception of the world, cognition, and, eventually, the nature of reality? The insufficiency of verbal narratives to approximate psychedelic experiences not only creates a significant obstacle for ongoing research and public discernment but also reveals the lack of a philosophical theory of psychedelic aesthetics.
As a PhD Candidate of the Philosophy and Psychedelics Exeter Research Group, I aim to fathom different modes of perception of psychedelic experiences and their specific qualities, such as the ineffable or the sublime. To originate a theory of psychedelic aesthetics, the development of a systematic framework will enable the characterisation of transcendental phenomena. By analysing different means of expression that attempt to replicate such experiences, i.e. artistic representations or informative reports, an approximation of the aesthetics and effects of psychedelic states can be initiated.
With a Master of Studies in History of Art and Visual Culture from the University of Oxford, and bachelor's degrees in architecture, German philology and art history, I obtained a deep understanding of how various disciplines cover different modes of expression to address existential questions of humanity. Thus, I bring the required interdisciplinary background for an endeavour that pushes the boundaries of traditional academic domains and combines the fields of philosophy, art theory, anthropology and psychedelic research. My path at the intersection of disciplines led me to stand up for the inclusion of the humanities, as well as unconventional practices such as psychedelic use, in scientific research and societal matters. The proposed research agenda unprecedentedly matches my expertise, personal values, interests, and passion.
The results of the dissertation may transcend their intellectual merit within academia and are intended to entail a broader societal impact: by making transcendental experiences more accessible, legitimate scepticism towards psychedelia can be addressed and potentially reduced. Further, as current research suggests, psychedelics are not only highly effective tools that offer the potential to positively impact our mental well-being but also enable us to study fundamental questions about the human experience itself.
Psychedelic Aesthetics: A Philosophical Theory of Perception in States of Transcendence