The basic thrust is that psychedelic experiences can function as a catalytic engine for social change, both by improving the motivations of highly capable but insufficiently reflective people, and by improving the capabilities of well-intentioned people who struggle with internal blockers.
If that’s what you think does the real work of drug liberalisation, you should probably state that and build a cost-effectiveness model on that basis, rather than try to justify drug reform on other terms but with that as the true motivation. I, for one, am pretty sceptical, because I can’t imagine loads more people would, counterfactually, start taking drugs recreationally and that, for those that do, this will have much impact on their cognitive powers.
Hmm. Yes, I agree cognitive shifts could be pretty powerful from psychedelics and that IQ points probably won’t change. I think I misread you.
The larger part of my scepticism is my intuitive hunch that loads of people wont suddenly start taking psychedelics if they’re legal/decrimed. This isn’t a strongly informed judgement and I could probably change my mind if presented with compelling reasons.
On the worldview stuff, if the idea is something like “people take drugs and this changes how they think for the better”, which I actually think is pretty plausible, a particular challenge is that those who you, I expect, would most like to take such drugs, i.e. the very close-minded, are probably going to be the least likely to take them anyway.
I’m not sure how the beliefs in Table 3 would lead to positive social change. Mostly just seems like an increase in some vague theism, along with
acceptance/complacency/indifference/nihilism. The former is epistemically shaky, and the latter doesn’t seem like an engine for social change.
If that’s what you think does the real work of drug liberalisation, you should probably state that and build a cost-effectiveness model on that basis, rather than try to justify drug reform on other terms but with that as the true motivation. I, for one, am pretty sceptical, because I can’t imagine loads more people would, counterfactually, start taking drugs recreationally and that, for those that do, this will have much impact on their cognitive powers.
Hmm. Yes, I agree cognitive shifts could be pretty powerful from psychedelics and that IQ points probably won’t change. I think I misread you.
The larger part of my scepticism is my intuitive hunch that loads of people wont suddenly start taking psychedelics if they’re legal/decrimed. This isn’t a strongly informed judgement and I could probably change my mind if presented with compelling reasons.
On the worldview stuff, if the idea is something like “people take drugs and this changes how they think for the better”, which I actually think is pretty plausible, a particular challenge is that those who you, I expect, would most like to take such drugs, i.e. the very close-minded, are probably going to be the least likely to take them anyway.
I’m not sure how the beliefs in Table 3 would lead to positive social change. Mostly just seems like an increase in some vague theism, along with acceptance/complacency/indifference/nihilism. The former is epistemically shaky, and the latter doesn’t seem like an engine for social change.