Philosophy and Psychedelics

Module title	Philosophy and Psychedelics
Module code	PHLM013
Academic year	2025/6
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr Christine Hauskeller (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	15

Module description

The renewed and increasingly intensified study of psychedelic substances over the past decade presents us with a set of new, apparently positive pathways for psychedelics as medicines. Changes in laws around psychedelics are underway, with Australia recently permitting selected substances for psychiatric treatment and the wellness and retreat markets booming.

The global politics concerning prohibition is in flux and ethical problems arise that relate to institutional and interpersonal power imbalances, exploitation and colonization. Concepts of liberty and safeguarding need to be considered as well as problems in medical and ecological ethics.

Psychedelic experiences come to act as facilitators of healing, in spiritual and medical recovery. Philosophy and practical ethics have a lot to contribute to understanding these developments. This becomes apparent especially in light of different cultural philosophies and the crucial roles of indigenous and underground communities when value is again attributed to non-ordinary experiences.

In this module we consider this multiplicity of perspectives and power conflicts surrounding the psychedelic revival and the practical ethical challenges we encounter. The balancing between epistemic and value positions are important here and the inclusion of feminist and counter-colonial theory and practice.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to provide a critical, pluralistic understanding of the renewed medical interest in psychedelic substances and experiences. We engage with perspectives from ethics, aesthetics, philosophy of self and consciousness as well as philosophy of science and society.

Diverse value commitments, professional ethics and different world views characterize a fast changing situation. We will discuss philosophical concepts of reason and ‘mental health’ in relation to phenomenological and political ideas of the ‘self’ and community. We will engage with the ethical and conceptual challenges that arise between indigenous practices of healing and the use of psychedelics in medical clinics as well as in religious and festive settings and retreats. Concepts such as cognitive liberty, epistemicide, animism and environmentalism will be part of the canon as well as power conflicts and the institutional apparatus shaping medicalization are discussed as well.

You will learn to look at a problem from different philosophical angles and to discuss the various ethical problems in the scientific adaptation of old and new psychedelic practices.

Students will gain knowledge of this emerging field, in which philosophical knowledge can be fruitfully applied. Moreover, students will benefit from the web of interconnections between psychedelic research and practical philosophy, that interacts with other disciplines especially cultural and social anthropology, political science, and theology, in addition to psychology and psychiatry.

The writing of short review essays will advance your ability to summarize arguments succinctly and you will be guided to write one brief essay on a theme of your choice from the course. There is opportunity to present to a group on your essay plan at the end of term.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. demonstrate solid knowledge and understanding of multiple perspectives on psychedelic narratives.
2. demonstrate understanding of the value conflicts and ethical problems in psychedelic studies
3. present your own analyses of the implications of theories on pressing debates of our time.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. demonstrate a high level of knowledge about practical philosophy and their application
5. demonstrate sound knowledge of past and current debates in applied ethics

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

6. demonstrate capacity to conduct research independently
7. demonstrate aptitude for succinct oral presentations to groups
8. write reflective academic review and research essays

Syllabus plan

Module content may vary annually as new developments take on new levels of importance, but generally the following content will apply. A number of guest lecturers are expected to participate in this module due to their relevant skill sets. The key text will be Philosophy and Psychedelics, eds. Hauskeller and Sjöstedt-Hughes (Bloomsbury, 2022).

Overview of the relation of psychedelics to philosophy
Psychedelics and the phenomenology and philosophy of mind and soul
Heroines and Healers: Gender and ethnic justice
Indigenous epistemologies and Biopiracy
Psychedelic aesthetics: the sublime, the beautiful, the strange, and the ineffable
Medicalization, inculcation, and global power relations
Cognitive liberty: rights to exploration, recreation, and risk
Psychedelic nature connectedness and the ecological crisis

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
24	126	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	20	10 x 2 hours per week comprising of lectures and seminars
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	4	1 x 4-hour facilitated workshop with student presentations.
Guided Independent Study	16	Analysis of a course reading and writing a succinct reflection on the text.
Guided Independent Study	50	Reading and analysing the seminar readings for each week
Guided Independent Study	60	Writing independent research essay. Conduct guided and independent research on a theme from the course; write a brief scholarly essay to be submitted after the end of term.

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Presentation of essay plan voluntary	5 minutes	1-4, 6, 7	Oral

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	80	2,500 words	1-6, 8	Written
Reading Review	20	1 x 500 words	1-5, 8	Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Essay (2,500 words)	Essay (2,500 words) (80%)	1-6, 8	August/September reassessment period
Reading Review (1 x 500 words)	Reading Summary (500 words) (20%)	1-5, 8	August/September reassessment period

Re-assessment notes

The forms of re-assessment have the same credit percentage as their original form of assessment.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Indicative Readings:

Each week we will be discussing specific chapters from books and journal articles.

A Key text is Hauskeller, C., & Sjöstedt-Hughes, P. (eds.) (2022) Philosophy and Psychedelics. Frameworks for Exceptional Experience (London: Bloomsbury)

Other readings may include for instance:

Apffel-Marglin, C. and Gonzales R.C. (2022) Initiated by the Spirits. Healing the Ills of Modernity through Shamanism. Psychedelics and the Power of the Sacred. Green Fire Press.

Benjamin, W. (1927–34) On Hashish

Boothroyd, D. (2006) Culture on Drugs: Narco-cultural Studies of High Modernity

Celidwen Y. et al. (2023) Ethical principles of traditional Indigenous medicine to guide western psychedelic research and practice, The Lancet Regional Health - Americas.

Hauskeller, C. and Schwarz, C.G. (2023) Critical Psychedelic Studies. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews 48(5).

Kettner, H., et al. (2019) From Egoism to Ecoism: Psychedelics Increase Nature Relatedness in a State-Mediated and Context-Dependent Manner. International Journal of Environmental Research and Mental Health.

Kopenawa, A. and Albert, B. (2019) The Falling Sky.

Krenak, Ailton (2023), Life is not Useful, Polity Press.

Labate, B & Cavnar, C (2021) Psychedelics and Justice, Synergetic press.

Langlitz, N. & Dyck, E. (2021) Moral Psychopharmacology needs moral inquiry. Frontiers in Psychology.

Luke, D. (2013) Ecopsychology and the Psychedelic Experience, European Journal of Ecopsychology, 4, pp. 1–8.

Luna, L. E. and White, S. F., eds. (2016) Ayahuasca Reader: Encounters with the Amazon’s Sacred Vine, 2^nd ed. (Santa Fe: Synergetic Press).

Lundborg, P. (2014) Note Towards a Definition of a Psychedelic Philosophy. The Fenris Wolf.

Papaspyrou, M., Baldini, C., and Luke, D., eds. (2019) Psychedelic Mysteries of the Feminine (Rochester: Park Street Press).

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Philosophy of Psychedelics Exeter Research Group: http://sites.exeter.ac.uk/philosophyandpsychedelics/
Philosophy and Psychedelics conference (Exeter): www.philosophyofpsychedelics.com
Erowid: 60 000 pages of online information about psychoactive drugs, plants, chemicals, etc.:

https://www.erowid.org/

Breaking Convention, conference videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/BreakingConvention/videos

Key words search

Psychedelics, phenomenology, philosophy of mind, consciousness, epistemologies, medical ethics, aesthetics, mysticism, ecology, biopiracy

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	12/03/2021
Last revision date	13/03/2025