22. Aldous Huxley on Altered States of Consciousness from Unpacking Ideas

22. Aldous Huxley on Altered States of Consciousness

58 minutes Posted Sep 19, 2022 at 4:00 pm.

introduction 

background about Huxley’s trip

the challenge of trying to communicate direct experience 

Nikki's multi-sphere model of consciousness 

the various terms for “God”

the reducing-valve theory of consciousness 

types of people who filter out less primary consciousness 

The Artist 

The Schizophrenic 

The Genius 

the terror of witnessing God directly

the morality of the contemplative life

Huxley’s conception of enlightenment 

the desire for self-transcendence 

the war on psychedelics 

integrating lessons from past lives

how a psychedelic experience changes a person’s character 

wrapping up/outro

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Show notes

In this episode we unpack British novelist and public intellectual Aldous Huxley's 1954 essay "The Doors of Perception."

This essay explores...

Huxley's experience on Mescalin

The Reducing Valve Theory of Consciousness

The human desire to transcend self-conscious self-hood

The ethics of the contemplative life

Links to Reading & Articles mentioned

The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley

General Resonance Theory (paper)

Entropic Brain Hypothesis (paper)

Pivotal Mental States (paper)

Nested Observer Windows (paper)

The Bhagavad Gita translation by Eknath Easwaran

How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

*note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode!

Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com

Guest: Nikki Johnson linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-johnson-free-thinker/

Theme Music: Polyenso

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