Psychedelics and Religious Insight: a Precedent in American Psycho-Spirituality from 1 William James to Timothy Leary
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Psychedelics and Religious Insight: A Precedent in American Psycho-Spirituality from 1 William James to Timothy Leary Psychedelics and Religious Insight: A Precedent in American Psycho-Spirituality from 2 William James to Timothy Leary Psychedelics and Religious Insight: A Precedent in American Psycho-Spirituality from 3 William James to Timothy Leary ABSTRACT Psychedelics and Religious Insight: A Precedent in American Psycho- Spirituality from William James to Timothy Leary by Connor James Storck The primary purpose of this thesis is to stress that there is a relationship between the texts one reads and psychedelic experiences. Reading texts has an effect on set and setting with respect to psychedelic experiences. Further, texts read—by figures like Timothy Leary—in the afterglow of a psychedelic experience can influence later integration of said experiences into one’s worldview. This thesis tracks this through the influence of mind-altering substances in the works of both William James (1842-1910) and Timothy Leary (1920-1996) in order to display James’ influence on Leary. James’ impact of Leary intellectually is critical because recent scholarship and changes in cultural and societal perspectives have led to a Psychedelic Renaissance in many disciplines from the clinical-therapeutic to the religious-spiritual. The paper covers select and relevant historical information relating to periods of the Anesthetic Revolution and the Long Sixties. I show how James came to experiment with various mind-altering substances and the results of those experiments. For this reason, the thesis also interacts with Benjamin Paul Blood, a figure whose work guided James’ thought towards the use of mind-altering substances. These mind-altering substances include nitrous oxide, diethyl ether, alcohol, chloroform, and peyote. I apply Leary’s theory of set and setting to better understand James’ Hegelian insights while on nitrous oxide. The thesis explicitly shows how James’ mystical hallmarks of noetic quality and ineffability were influential in Leary’s early psychedelic research. Further, I argue for the thesis Psychedelics and Religious Insight: A Precedent in American Psycho-Spirituality from 4 William James to Timothy Leary that James set a precedent for the use of mind-altering substances for religio-mystical insight that was later expanded upon and entrusted to the masses in the form of Leary’s psychedelic projects. Evidence suggests that these theorists used psychedelics for insights akin to an anagogic interpretation of various works from Hegel to the Tao Te Ching. The conclusion of this thesis briefly ties in contemporary examples and suggests these trends will continue today in the wake of current Psychedelic Renaissance. Psychedelics and Religious Insight: A Precedent in American Psycho-Spirituality from 5 William James to Timothy Leary Acknowledgements I want first to acknowledge the burdens many have faced in the last year during the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic weighed heavy on the collective psyche of humankind. Many families suffered as loved ones lost their lives, alone and gasping for air that would not come. While disappointments, defeat, and death seemed in excess over the past year, I hope that this experience will open the hearts of all those who have suffered. I hope this suffering might make each of us stronger and better able to take up the burdens of those around us. Passion can be measured in the magnitudes of suffering one is willing to take up for their own causes, but compassion is measured in the magnitude of suffering one is willing to take up to ease the burden of another. I appreciate and acknowledge the compassion of those around me who have helped me through this past year. Completing my thesis would not have been possible without the support, love, and care of my partner, AriAnna Swaab. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, she stood by my side. More than anyone else, she was there for me when the light at the end of the tunnel was dimmest. Without her love and compassion, I would not have made it to this point. AriAnna, I love you and thank you dearly from the core of my being for all the compassion you have shown me. I pray that many more years of triumph over struggle will come to bolster our love for each other. Thank you kindly, my love. Being locked away in a small room halfway across the country from my family was not an easy experience. However, I want to thank my parents, who were always there for me when I needed someone to talk to. To my mother, Kerry, thank you for being a steady voice and listening to me even when what I said made little sense to you at all. Simply saying that "it was going to be ok" helped more than you will ever know. To my father, Bradley, thank you for Psychedelics and Religious Insight: A Precedent in American Psycho-Spirituality from 6 William James to Timothy Leary being an example of strength and encouragement. To my stepfather, Mark, thank you for trying to understand my arguments even when they made little sense. To my sister, Phelan, I thank you for understanding that your brother, though bogged down by the stresses of the last two years, is still always willing to support you and care for you. To my brother Matt and sister-in-law Caitlyn, I apologize for missing your wedding due to the pandemic, school, and exams. Your care in this event helped me make it through my program without the weight of guilt being too much to bear. Thank you for understanding. To the rest of my siblings, I love and appreciate you all. Thank you for the support you all have offered me over the last two years. To my Grandpa Storck, thank you for your excitement when I talked to you about my projects. I would also like to thank my Grandma Storck, who sat on the phone for hours when I spoke and read my thesis. Your time was a gift that I will always cherish. To my Papa Jim and Grandma Oooh Whoo, thank you for reading my thesis along the way. Your comments were always a source of encouragement. Thank you also for the care packages. They made my days brighter and ensured I had something to eat. I also want to thank my partner's mother, Janie, whose kindness and care are examples to others. Janie, you welcomed me into your family, and I cannot express to you enough my gratitude now, but I hope in the years to come, you will see the benefits of your efforts in supporting Ari and me. To my "Grandpa K," who remained strong in the passing of my "Grandma K" this past year, thank you for being an example of strength and source of challenge to my ideas. For "Grandma K," I am sorry I was not there when you passed, but I know your warmth and love continue to keep eyes on me. My family is large and ever- growing, and if a name is missed, please know that it is not out of lack of gratitude. I love and Psychedelics and Religious Insight: A Precedent in American Psycho-Spirituality from 7 William James to Timothy Leary appreciate you all; your support is beyond return. Thank you all kindly from the core of my being. I also want to express my deepest appreciation to my committee members. I am deeply indebted to my primary advisor, Dr. Brian Ogren, who helped better my thesis throughout the last months of the writing process. I am sure that coming off of sabbatical into the pandemic Zoom classroom to advise a student you had only met once in person two years prior could not have been an easy task. Still, you continued with tenacious grace, so I thank you for your effort and support. I would also like to extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Claire Fanger. Her direction and challenge to my ideas helped me see avenues for bettering my arguments. I would also like to acknowledge your incredible compassion and strength through the trials of caring for your family. You truly have love in your heart, and I wish that this be acknowledged and commended. Your strength and intellect are an example worth striving for. I hope one day I might be as proficient with my voice and intellect as you are. Thank you kindly from the bottom of my heart. I am also incredibly grateful to Dr. Jeffrey Kripal. Your voice remained a calm source of encouragement throughout these last two years of graduate school. Thank you for offering me directions and calm concern. I also want to thank Dr. Bill Parsons for his cheerful and energetic charisma, who helped me through my final semester at Rice. Thanks should also go out to Dr. Nikki Clements and Dr. Anthony Pinn. Your courses challenged my ways of thinking and helped me grow as an individual student and scholar. To the fellow members of my cohort, who know the struggles of the M.A. program over these last two years more than anyone else, I applaud and acknowledge you all. Shani, you are incredible. Teaching at HCC and being a supporting and loving mother, all while finishing this program at Rice—you are an example for us all. Jon, you are truly a compassionate soul. I am Psychedelics and Religious Insight: A Precedent in American Psycho-Spirituality from 8 William James to Timothy Leary sorry for almost burning our apartment down at RVA, you handled the unfortunate turn of events with extreme distinction. I hope that I might be able to pass some of those contemplative thresholds through which you have already passed.