Matthew David Segall - Process Philosophy as Psychedelic Realism

Psychedelic experiences are presented as a form of ontological realism rather than mere hallucinations. Drawing on process philosophy, the talk suggests that these experiences reveal a reality where consciousness is not merely produced by the brain but is instead extended throughout the ecosystem. The co-evolution of plants and the human nervous system provides a scientific framework for these insights, highlighting plants as ecological tuning forks that interact with human cognition. Psychedelics act as a catalyst for shifting metaphysical beliefs away from materialist frameworks. Empirical data from the psychedelic research renaissance indicate that intense psychedelic experiences frequently correlate with shifts toward idealism or panpsychism, often leading to enhanced feelings of well being. Moving from a representationalist view of consciousness to a participatory one, the talk calls for a transformation in how these experiences are interpreted and validated by researchers.