Psychedelics and Religious Insight: A Precedent in American Psycho-Spirituality from William James to Timothy Leary

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dc.contributor.advisorOgren, Brianen_US
dc.contributor.advisorParsons, Billen_US
dc.contributor.advisorKripal, Jeffreyen_US
dc.creatorStorck, Connor J.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2021-05-03T22:02:27Zen_US
dc.date.available2021-05-03T22:02:27Zen_US
dc.date.created2021-05en_US
dc.date.issued2021-04-26en_US
dc.date.submittedMay 2021en_US
dc.date.updated2021-05-03T22:02:27Zen_US
dc.description.abstractThe primary purpose of this thesis is to stress that there is a relationship between the texts one reads and the psychedelic experiences one may have. 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 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 the current Psychedelic Renaissance.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationStorck, Connor J.. "Psychedelics and Religious Insight: A Precedent in American Psycho-Spirituality from William James to Timothy Leary." (2021) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/110459">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/110459</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/110459en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectWilliam Jamesen_US
dc.subjectPsychedelicsen_US
dc.subjectPeyoteen_US
dc.subjectNitrous Oxideen_US
dc.subjectHegelen_US
dc.subjectPsychologyen_US
dc.subjectReligionen_US
dc.subjectMysticismen_US
dc.subject1960sen_US
dc.subjectTimothy Learyen_US
dc.subjectPoetryen_US
dc.subjectHegelen_US
dc.subjectAldous Huxleyen_US
dc.subjectLSD-25en_US
dc.subjectMagic Mushroomsen_US
dc.subjectAmerican Studiesen_US
dc.subjectSpiritual But Not Religiousen_US
dc.subjectEntheogensen_US
dc.subjectPsychedelic Renaissance en_US
dc.subjectBardo Thodolen_US
dc.subjectBenjamin Paul Blooden_US
dc.subjectAllen Ginsberg en_US
dc.subjectRam Dassen_US
dc.subjectGerald Hearden_US
dc.subjectHuston Smithen_US
dc.subjectHarvarden_US
dc.subjectThe War on Drugsen_US
dc.subjectRichard Nixonen_US
dc.subjectNew Ageen_US
dc.subjectAmerican Spiritualityen_US
dc.subjectTao Te Chingen_US
dc.subjectRichard Alperten_US
dc.titlePsychedelics and Religious Insight: A Precedent in American Psycho-Spirituality from William James to Timothy Learyen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentReligious Studiesen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineHumanitiesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Artsen_US
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