How Level is the 'Cognitive Playing Field'?
Philosophy and the Mind Sciences April 19, 2022 Joshua M. Martin, Philipp Sterzer 7 citations
Psychedelics may help treat mental health conditions by changing how people think about themselves, but the context in which they are taken plays a crucial role. A commentary on Chris Letheby's 'Philosophy of Psychedelics' argues that a person's mindset and physical surroundings during a psychedelic experience shape which new self-conceptions they discover. This aligns with the REBUS model, where relaxing strong prior beliefs makes the brain more sensitive to incoming sensory information. A supportive environment and positive state of mind make beneficial changes in self-understanding and long-term well-being more likely. This view largely agrees with Letheby but questions his idea that psychedelics create a 'level cognitive playing field' where all self-related hypotheses are equally probable.