Cautions on the Notion of Moral Enhancement with Psychedelics. Reply to Kähönen, J. Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are the Plausible Mechanism of Psychedelic Moral Enhancement Rather than a Risk. Comment on “Tang, B.L. Psychedelics for Moral Bioenhancement in Healthy Individuals—A Violation of the Non-Maleficence Principle? Psychoactives 2025, 4, 5”
Psychoactives December 17, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/psychoactives4040044
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA scholar responds to criticism that the risks of psychedelics have been exaggerated and their potential for moral enhancement dismissed. The author maintains that claims about psychedelics improving moral character require far more scientific evidence and broader bioethical discussion before they can be accepted. The piece does not present new data but argues for caution and further debate on the topic.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Commentary or response article Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The notion of moral enhancement with psychedelics needs substantially more scientific evidence and extended bioethical debates. |
Abstract
Kähönen argued that the harms associated with psychedelics have been overstated, while evidence for the latter’s moral enhancing effects was disregarded, in my earlier commentary. Here, I respond to these arguments and maintain that the notion of moral enhancement with psychedelics needs substantially more scientific evidence and extended bioethical debates.