Andrés Gómez Emilsson from the Qualia Research Institute presents about Psychedelic Epistemology at Psychedelic Studies Imperial (December of 2021).

Abstract:

In this talk Andrés will discuss some of the current limitations of research paradigms for studying exotic states of consciousness and offer several novel approaches he believes can meaningfully transcend such limitations. First of all, it is important to note that in the realm of consciousness, historically we have observed that theories define facts as much as the other way around. While predictive processing, the free energy principle, connectionism, and notions of neural causality are clearly more advanced and refined than behaviorism and functionalism, historical precedents should make us suspicious about their supposed explanatory scope. Indeed, we risk overlooking (and perhaps even denying) key particularly weird but reliable phenomena disclosed by exotic states of consciousness if we cannot "fit them" into our framework. Andrés will share some of the most egregiously bizarre properties of experience as relayed by high-quality and reliable phenomenological observations of exotic states of consciousness. In turn, he will argue that such properties require us to rethink the nature of consciousness. In particular, Andrés will dive into the nature of visual tracers, the structural properties of valence, and holistic field behavior exhibited by the visual field on high-dose psychedelic states. Additionally, he will discuss free-wheeling hallucinations, dualities, and a family of "annealing effects" easily noted if one knows what to look for. Scientific paradigms of consciousness will have to integrate such findings in order to be complete. Andrés will conclude with ideas for how to study these phenomena in systematic ways and hint at explanatory frameworks actually capable of making sense of them.

You can find the LIVE version of this presentation here: https://youtu.be/MPK6o6CjIYs

For more, read about Qualia Research Institute at: https://www.thequaliaresearchinstitute.org/

Thanks to Nemo for providing a spot for the presentation, and to Maggie for editing this video (apologies for the occasional sound disturbances!).

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Relevant links:

QRI's Psychophysics Toolkit: https://psychophysics.thequaliaresearchinstitute.org/

Guide to Writing Rigorous Reports of Exotic States of Consciousness - https://www.thequaliaresearchinstitute.org/blog/rigorous-reports

Neural Annealing (Michael Johnson) - https://opentheory.net/2019/11/neural-annealing-toward-a-neural-theory-of-everything/

A Future for Neuroscience (Michael Johnson) - https://opentheory.net/2018/08/a-future-for-neuroscience/

The Control Interrupt Model of Psychedelic Action (James L. Kent) - http://psychedelic-information-theory.com/The-Control-Interrupt-Model-of-Psychedelic-Action

The Grand Illusion (Steven Lehar) - http://slehar.com/wwwRel/GrandIllusion.pdf

Welcoming Steven Lehar as a QRI Lineage - https://www.thequaliaresearchinstitute.org/blog/steven-lehar-lineage

Free-Wheeling Hallucinations - https://qualiacomputing.com/2019/01/06/free-wheeling-hallucinations/

The Resonance and Vibration of [Phenomenal] Objects - https://qualiacomputing.com/2019/03/09/the-resonance-and-vibration-of-phenomenal-objects/

The Fact That We Can Smell Functional Groups is Just Such a Thing (Luca Turin) - https://qualiacomputing.com/2020/08/25/the-fact-that-we-can-smell-functional-groups-is-just-such-a-thing/

Josikinz Channel (referenced in the presentation) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUJnH-MsFgAgvCVHplxqJOQ/videos

Junk Bond Trader Channel (referenced in the presentation) - https://www.youtube.com/c/JunkBondTrader/videos