Role of psychedelics in the survival of the human species

[titus]

Here's something I've been thinking about more seriously in lieu of recent world events... are humans ultimately capable of not annihilating themselves as is? I mean, will the human tendencies of rage, denial, wishful thinking, greed, etc. etc. be able to be successfully managed by humans alone? Personally, I'm starting to become somewhat pessimistic about this prospect, primarily in regards to the greed and denial factors... So, on to what I'm really asking here, are psychedelics actually capable of fostering enough consciousness that humans can begin to viscerally perceive the horrifying reality lived by many around the world (war, famine, etc.), and those potential horrifying realities in store for us more privileged folk if we keep continuing as we do, and to do something about it all? I know for me this has been the case, at least with the former, to the point that taking serious trips nowadays usually ends up with me as doom-struck witness to the recap of world events, with the reality of what these events actually mean for those living them, and to any hope of a shared human future that does justice to our best instincts, very viscerally felt.

That being said, I know plenty of people who take psychedelics fairly regularly who would have no clue what I'm even talking about, let alone have experienced something similar. And this is perhaps to the point: I personally have felt like I have gained immensely from psychedelics, in terms of feeling 'more conscious', but is this actually an effect inherent to psychedelics, or does it only arise when combined with serious intent and knowledge of one's world (or perhaps more appropriately, a willingness to learn about one's world; I certainly know very, very little about the world in the scheme of things)? I'm not sure about any of these questions, which I suppose is why I'm asking them here. What do you people think? Will psychedelics have to play a central role in a humane future, is a sane future achievable by other means in the long term, or are we simply doomed kill-monkeys whose inability to control ourselves will ultimately seal our doom?

 

[BongQuixote]

Are we simply doomed kill-monkeys whose inability to control ourselves will ultimately seal our doom?

Yes, that's what I think.

That doesn't prevent us from evolving into something better and more stable. Homo Sapiens doesn't seem to improve much evolutionary at this point, despite figuring out more science and gaining knowledge. The basic machine has reached its limitation when it comes to evolving into a more "human" and altruistic species, unless we get some cool mutations happening.

 

[murklan]

Yes interesting...

My perspective is that we as a species are to such a big degree socially defined. You might way that there are some 'basic machine' parts of us and yes I believe this also effects how we do things. But our possibilities and limits are to a much larger extents defines to what we beliefs, our values, the 'stories' we tell and so on.

I'm currently reading 'The Dawn of Everything' by David Graeber and David Wengrow and it's an eye opener regarding the ways see our human history and civilization process(es). We have never been were we are now before in the history of the humankind, but I don't believe there are a per-destined outcome of how it will go. We have been very creative in many ways before and will continue to be so.

I'm not hopeful, but that is mainly because I think it to late for hope. Lets put another way in practice.

(and as a footnote. I'm not really all about 'saving the humankind' but at the same time I don't think that we are a big mistake ant that we should get rid of ourselves as gracefully, and quick, as possible).

 

[fathomlessness]

One question we can never answer is whether or not the suffering of our species is actually propelling us further in to the future. This is of course a metaethical and metaphysical speculation, but it is interesting to ponder for its implications. By some natural universal law, it may be the case that if we humans live in a state of desolation/coldness and unfairness it might eventually prolong our survival. In this perspective, Hitler may have been the greatest thing to ever happen to mankind and may have been the reason for such quick advancement of our technologies.

I often use this as an argument AGAINST psychedelic use, that it might slow the progress of humanity down by healing all our psychological ills. Naturally, all we want as humans is to be in a less ego-driven society with less hate, injustice, unfair drug laws, inequality. But our contention on this matter is merely one of a human perspective, one which does not know the ethical or karmic structures at play which are too profound for the human mind to comprehend. We can appeal to faith in this way and say, it is the way it is for a reason.. but that assumes an optimistic perspective. At any rate, our scientific progress is so fast due to ego's working away so hard without questioning the larger questions in a way might detract from their ambition and motivation. This was much of the argument of why the hippie revolution was turned down by nixon, because people who woke up saw the war was bullshit, so was the 9-5 system. It can cause mass revolt and rejection of a corrupt system which humans rely on so much.

At an individual level, we also do not know whether the consumption of psychedelics may hinder our next lifetime in some way. It might be the case that to receive guidance in such a way, is to go in debt to some cosmic order which you shal repay again in the future. Whether that means in the human form again after death (samsara), or some new higher dimension form as we may transcend up the ladder of consciousness after each birth.

In conclusion, my point is that these questions aren't easy to answer because of our limited perspective. The best we can argue for is our own human perspective. Naturally, anything that makes us more aware, more appreciative of existence, allows us to use our minds in more functional ways ought to be seen as FUNDAMENTALLY beneficial for our species. But it is presumptuous of the fact that we know how cause and effect works at a higher levels. Our purpose might be to become symbiotic with AI and that process may require zombie-esque ego driven pleasure seeking morons for some reason. Or perhaps the illuminati is keeping us all controlled with our egos until AI takes over. Who knows. We can't presume, we can only make individual choices for ourselves. Considering probably less than 1% of the human population uses psychedelics and majority are involved in religions that have no contemplative practice that offers a trance state, it isn't looking great.

 

[8-Serpent-Wind]

what I'm really asking here, are psychedelics actually capable of fostering enough consciousness that humans can begin to viscerally perceive the horrifying reality lived by many around the world

Not even a little bit.

I recall something that happened to a friend of mine years ago. I took him to a house that a friend owned and we took LSD together there. I also warned him not to go to that house without me.

A few days later he went to the house without me, he had LSD and was trying to sell it. Well one of the biker gang members who lived there asked to see it and then punched the guy and robbed him. It was messed up. The guys who robbed my friend then took the LSD and partied.

The bikers didn't feel bad, they bragged about it.
They were not nice people and taking LSD didn't change that and though this incident happened almost 3 decades ago (23+years) those bikers are still bad people who do bad things (evil is a better word for them actually) Taking LSD didn't change that at all.

Psychedelics are powerful and can be used and applied in many ways, but they do not cause enlightenment nor does taking them make someone into a better person.

The long term studies showing psychedelic benefits in terms of mental, physical and emotional health all involve religious systems that provide a framework that helps promote beneficial use of psychedelics.

Psychedelics also have dark uses, both traditionally as well as more modern applications. They are powerful tools that can be incredibly destructive as well as wonderfully productive. Indeed they have even been used as weapons. Edgewood was dedicated to this purpose. Remember Shulgin was researching psychedelics initially for the Military. It isn't all as positive as the spin makes it out to be.