In this presentation Peter attempts a broad philosophical refection on the matter of psychedelia in the hope that it will be useful in helping us to situate, interpret and evaluate psychedelic experience and its cultural expressions. His starting point is simply to ask the basic, naive questions: 'What is the nature of psychedelia, its defining experiences and its expression in culture?' This quickly proves to be an overwhelmingly fertile set of question for a philosopher, not least because psychedelia is shot through, willy-nilly, with the same concerns that characterise philosophical reflection. Philosophy can examine psychedelia, but psychedelia can also examine philosophy. This presentation, accordingly, takes the form of a multi-faceted word-picture in which psychedelia and philosophy reflect each other in the manner of facing mirrors. If there is a conclusion as such, it is that psychedelia, however much it becomes respectable, must retain its counter-cultural credentials.

BIOGRAPHY

Psychedelia exploded onto the world during the formative period of my life: I read Huxley's Doors of Perception in 1964 at age 16 much to the alarm of my father. It has remained 'just there' ever since, sometimes in the foreground, sometimes in the background. Perhaps fueled by the same exploratory impetus that attracted me to psychedelic experience, I have practiced yoga for most of my adult life and have been teaching it since the 1970s. I am the co-founder of the Parkdale Yoga Center which has been running for nearly 20 years and a founder member and Secretary of The Independent Yoga Network. I am also a practicing philosopher and hold a PhD in the discipline.