Redressing a Straw Man: Correcting Critical Misunderstandings of Aldous Huxley’s Perennial Philosophy

Summary

This essay defends the Huxley/Osmond theory that psychedelic drugs can induce a cross-cultural mystical experience of unity with ultimate reality. It argues against constructivist critics who claim Huxley's Perennial Philosophy is outdated, showing that three common charges are erroneous: that Huxley saw his view as religion's essence, that he believed in universally shared religious beliefs, and that his position requires a state of pure consciousness. The essay contends the Perennial Philosophy is a family of theories, not a single viewpoint, and suggests future testing of the theory with psychedelic drugs.

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Abstract

This essay reinvigorates the Huxley/Osmond theory that psychedelic drugs can occasion a cross-cultural mystical experience characterized by a sense of “unity with ultimate reality.” It offers a long-overdue rejoinder to the position of Constructivist authors such as Steven T. Katz, Hans Penner, and Stephen Prothero that Aldous Huxley’s Perennial Philosophy is a defunct position. Specifically, the essay answers three erroneous charges: (1) that Huxley posited his viewpoint as the “core” or “essence” of religion, (2) that Huxley believed he was describing a set of universally shared religious beliefs, and (3) that Huxley’s position depends on a belief in—and the possibility of—a state of “pure consciousness.” In all cases, these charges will be shown to be erroneous. Moreover, it will also be argued that these claims are inaccurate for most forms of the Perennial Philosophy, and that the Perennial Philosophy is not a homogenous viewpoint, but rather a family of theories as are Existentialism, Postmodernism, and Idealism. The essay ends with a look at new directions for testing the Huxley/Osmond position, including with psychedelic drugs.

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