Panpsychism – the idea that consciousness is a feature of the universe rather than solely a product of the brain – is often reported as a relatable viewpoint after a psychedelic experience. Philosopher of mind and metaphysics, Dr Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes of Exeter University, believes that understanding these metaphysical shifts may help improve clinical outcomes for psychedelic therapy and how panpsychism may offer new perceptions of the world.
The traditional Western view of reality is rooted in materialism, the belief that consciousness arises solely out of the physical processes of the brain, and non-dualism, the idea that mind and body are separate.
When exposed to psychedelics, however, many people report that this lifelong perspective is shattered, shifting towards more metaphysical views such as panpsychism – the idea that consciousness resides in all things in the universe.
Materialism dates back over 2,500 years, but this perception of reality has gained dominance over spiritual or non-material explanations of the world since the dawn of scientific inquiry.
There are many philosophical views that challenge this perspective, however, and research shows that psychedelics often bring materialist beliefs into question; the insights and hallucinations induced by psychedelics often trigger deep questions about our mind and the world around us.
From seeing “entities”, to feeling that plants are conscious or that we are all in some way connected to nature and the universe as a whole, psychedelics can trigger shifts in perception that may rumble the foundations of our reality.
If psychedelics can change how we perceive the world around us, what does this mean for their role in mental health, and also their role in deepening our understanding of consciousness and its place in the world?
Dr Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes believes that helping people better understand the metaphysical belief shifts they experience after using psychedelics could potentially improve psychedelic therapy outcomes and may even contribute to our understanding of consciousness.
In a paper published in Frontiers in Psychology, Dr Sjöstedt-Hughes presents a Metaphysics Matrix and a Metaphysics Matrix Questionnaire to help patients make sense of these metaphysical belief changes, including panpsychism.
“Materialism itself is a metaphysical belief,” says Dr Sjöstedt-Hughes, adding:
Materialism’s view that mind is produced by, or identical to, certain activities of matter is not a scientific but a metaphysical speculation. Yet the metaphysics of materialism has underlain much of Western science for the last few centuries.
It is implicit in much of contemporary neuroscience, and as such limits the research possibilities and interpretation of findings.
If we open up the metaphysical options, as I seek to do in the Metaphysics Matrix, then I think both the science of, and therapy with, psychedelics could enhance significantly.
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