Critical Doses: Nurturing Diversity in Psychedelic Studies

The authors argue that the current excitement around the biomedical use of psychedelic substances requires diverse critical analyses from the social sciences and humanities. Such analyses can resist appropriation and support community-based ethical practices. The articles and book reviews in this thematic issue show the urgency of developing psychedelic cultures outside the medico-pharmaceutical complex, offering inter- and transdisciplinary perspectives. Critical psychedelic studies challenge colonizing knowledge practices in historical and contemporary psychedelic discourse. The authors reflect on power relations in the psychedelic revival, arguing against fixed field definitions and in favor of flexible formations of consciousness and praxis. They provide ideas for deconstructing patriarchal colonial legacies and contemporary power dynamics focused on wealth creation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In this introduction to the thematic issue Critical Psychedelic Studies we argue that many and diverse critical analyses of psychedelic cultures and practices are needed to counter the current hype around the biomedicalization of psychedelic substances. The social sciences and humanities offer insights and methods to resist appropriation and to establish community based ethical practices. The assembled articles and book reviews indicate an urgency and vitality of research aimed at growing psychedelic cultures outside the medico-pharmaceutical complex, offering inter- and transdisciplinary perspectives. Critical psychedelic studies challenge hegemonial or colonizing knowledge practices in historical and contemporary psychedelic discourse. Bringing together insights from the different original contributions we reflect on power relations in the psychedelic revival. In this article we argue against field definitions and in favour of diverse and agile formations of consciousness and praxis. We provide critical ideas for deconstructing both the patriarchal colonial legacies and the contemporary power dynamics focussed on wealth creation that characterize today's psychedelic revival.