Describing the Unspeakable: Psychedelic Communication Technologies and the Development of a Posthuman Language
Journal of Posthuman Studies December 1, 2020 Benjamin Dueck 3 citations
Psychedelic drugs like DMT, LSD, and psilocybin challenge modern notions of identity and subjectivity, but their ineffable effects resist verbal description. This paper proposes a new framework by interpreting neuroscientific research through Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari's concepts of deterritorialization and stratification. It argues that classic psychedelics can be understood as communication technologies that prepare the brain for higher-dimensional language production, beyond their roles as spiritual sacraments, psychoactive molecules, or healing medicines. The approach aims to unify subjective and empirical dimensions of the psychedelic experience and explores how these molecules contribute to the development of multisensory, posthuman forms of language.