Ontic Structural Realism, Buddhist Metaphysics, and the Self in Psychedelic Psychotherapy
Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology August 1, 2025 Daniel Stearman
This paper argues that ontic structural realism, a metaphysical view holding that relations are fundamental, can make sense of the psychedelic experience in a way consistent with naturalism while accounting for its spiritual and transformative aspects. Drawing on Western and Eastern sources, it introduces a notion of self-disidentification to frame varieties of self-transcendent experiences. It then applies Buddhist relationist ontology to show how the psychedelic experience can help rebuild one's identity into one defined by relationships to others and the natural world. The goal is to aid metaphysical integration of transformative mystical experiences in psychedelic-assisted therapy.