Positive Affect and Letheby's Naturalization of Psychedelic Therapy
Philosophy and the Mind Sciences April 19, 2022 Sarah Hoffman 8 citations
Letheby's naturalistic theory of psychedelic therapy holds that the therapeutic power of psychedelics stems from enabling individuals to discover the contingency, mutability, and simulatory nature of their identity and habitual modes of attention. While the general shape of this project is persuasive and the claim that successful therapy involves changes to the self seems hard to object to, the role of affect in psychedelic therapy is insufficiently explored. A comparison with MDMA-assisted therapy indicates that Letheby's reliance on a particular conceptualization of ego dissolution experiences requires further explanation and justification.