Cautions on the Notion of Moral Enhancement with Psychedelics. Reply to Kähönen, J. Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are the Plausible Mechanism of Psychedelic Moral Enhancement Rather than a Risk. Comment on “Tang, B.L. Psychedelics for Moral Bioenhancement in Healthy Individuals—A Violation of the Non-Maleficence Principle? Psychoactives 2025, 4, 5”
Psychoactives December 17, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.3390/psychoactives4040044
Summary
The commentary argues against the view that psychedelics have been overly criticized for their harms and suggests that claims of their moral enhancing effects lack sufficient scientific support. It emphasizes the need for more extensive research and bioethical discussions on this topic.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | The notion of moral enhancement with psychedelics requires significantly more scientific evidence and bioethical debate. |
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Abstract
Kähönen argued that the harms associated with psychedelics have been overstated, while evidence for the latter’s moral enhancing effects was disregarded, in my earlier commentary. Here, I respond to these arguments and maintain that the notion of moral enhancement with psychedelics needs substantially more scientific evidence and extended bioethical debates.