Seeking a Deeper Understanding of Our World?

Dear friends and neighbors,

Peter, with his long orange hair and beard, looks like a nordic prince bundled up in a large white sweater jacket – made locally in Cornwall, England (his hometown); which I visited via Zoom. I was taken by the vastness of his knowledge base combined with his "regular guy" attitude. He has theoretical and personal experience with a variety of psychedelics and thereby brings psychedelics and philosophy together in an enlightening way. I am looking forward to reading his next book, Philosophy and Psychedelics, and would recommend you do as well.

Please watch, read, or listen to the interview, and let me know what you think in the comments.

The Metaphysics of Psychedelics – Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes

I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

---

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom (Dr. Richard L. Miller) AVAILABLE NOW

• Psychedelic Medicine (Dr. Richard L. Miller)

• Follow Peter on Twitter

• Philosophy and Psychedelics (Dr. Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes)

Transcript

Richard Louis Miller: Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis Miller. 

The mission of Mind Body Health & Politics is to enhance your physical and mental wellbeing and to encourage community. When I say encourage community, what I mean is that I believe that human beings are basically friendly tribal animals. We enjoy hanging out together and cooperating with one another. 

However, it's important for us to know that there is a certain percentage of us who are avaricious predators. These people would have us be subjects rather than citizens. They want to dominate rather than cooperate. We must be ever mindful of this very small percentage of people, so that they do not take over and rule us. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, one of my great heroes, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."

Today on Mind Body Health & Politics, I have the great privilege of our guest being Dr. Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes, who's a philosopher of mind and metaphysics. He teaches at the University of Exeter and specializes in the thoughts of Spinoza, Nietzsche, and Whitehead, and in fields pertaining to the panpsychological aspects of the mind — panpsychism. Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics, Peter.

Peter Sjostedt-Hughes: It's a pleasure to be here, Richard. Thanks for the invitation. 

Bringing psychedelics into philosophy

Richard Louis Miller: Peter, you bring psychedelics into philosophy. One of the ways you do it is by talking about the history of philosophy and great philosophers who used psychedelics, including Plato, Jean-Paul Sartre, William James, and of course, Huxley. 

What can you tell us about modern philosophers and the use of psychedelics? Are you guys using psychedelics to enhance your work? If so, are you talking about it? Or is it all sub rosa? 

In the book that I just published, Psychedelic Wisdom, nineteen prominent scientists, psychologists, and psychiatrists out themselves about decades of sub rosa psychedelic experiences, but the reason they were willing to out themselves is because I chose people who are all elders and have less to lose. 

Peter Sjostedt-Hughes: People did say I had a lot to lose about ten years ago. They said, "Don't mention this, it’s a career killer," but actually, it made my career in many ways.