module
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
PHL3117: Philosophy and Psychedelics
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
(Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics.)
We begin with a couple of sessions introducing the History and Philosophy of Psychedelics
The Philosophy of Psychedelics is a new field, yet concerns a long history. We begin with an overview of the multifarious philosophic facets of this subject, to gain a comprehensive perspective on the current psychedelic renaissance.
We then discuss in more detail, over the following eight weeks:
- Philosophy of mind, consciousness, and psychedelics
- The biopolitics and bioeconomy of psychedelics
- Creativity and aesthetics vis-à-vis psychedelics
- Perennialism and Contextualism: Western mysticism and Non-Western Indigenous approaches
- Metaphysics and psychedelics: Interpreting psychedelic experience through metaphysical systems
- Transpersonal and environmental ethics and psychedelics
The module will close with an overall discussion about the cross-cutting nature of the topic across philosophical sub-disciplines and how a comprehensive philosophy of psychedelics might be possible.
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 22 | 11x 40 minute lecture and 11x 80 minute seminars |
| Guided independent studies | 48 | Reading and Research |
| Guided independent study | 20 | Preparation and recording of presentation |
| Guided independent study | 38 | Preparation and Writing of Essay |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
TEDx Talk 'Psychedelics and Consciousness' by Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes: https://youtu.be/tV8PSevhd_M
Erowid: 60 000 pages of online information about psychoactive drugs, plants, chemicals, etc.:
Philosophy and Psychedelics conference (Exeter): www.philosophyofpsychedelics.com
Breaking Convention, conference videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/BreakingConvention/videos