What Can Critical Humanities Contribute to Psychedelic Research? A Naturalist Approach to Interdisciplinary Integration

Interdisciplinary collaboration between science and the humanities can advance psychedelic-assisted therapy. Adopting a non-reductionist naturalist framework that views psychological phenomena as emergent from neuronal biochemical processes, the paper argues that critical humanities—integrating aesthetic, psychological, philosophical, spiritual, and recreational perspectives with scientific inquiry—can address metaphysical biases in language that hinder research and public understanding. It clarifies antiquated dualisms, corrects misconceptions about psychedelic experiences, and cautions against the notion that such experiences “cause” insights. Critical humanities also enhance therapeutic settings, such as music's role in therapy, and assist in designing comparative studies, fostering a more coherent understanding of psychedelic experiences.

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Abstract

This paper explores the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration between science and the humanities, with a focus on recent advancements in psychedelic-assisted therapy. It provides an overview of key concepts in this emerging field and identifies research gaps that offer opportunities for interdisciplinary integration. Adopting a non-reductionist naturalist framework, the paper views psychological phenomena as emergent properties of underlying neuronal biochemical processes. The term “critical humanities” refers to integrating diverse perspectives— such as aesthetic, psychological, philosophical, spiritual, and recreational—with scientific inquiry. Within this framework, the paper argues that critical humanities can address metaphysical biases in language that hinder psychedelic research and public understanding. For instance, it can clarify antiquated dualisms, correct misconceptions about the nature of psychedelic experiences, and prevent premature psychological predictions lacking solid evidence. More precisely, the paper cautions against the notion that psychedelic experiences “cause” insights. Additionally, critical humanities can enhance therapeutic settings, such as the role of music in therapy sessions, and assist in designing comparative studies. Ultimately, it aims to foster a more coherent understanding regarding psychedelic experiences. Keywords: psychedelic-assisted therapy, altered states of consciousness, mystic experiences, humanities of psychedelics, philosophy, neuroplasticity, non-reductionist naturalism