Welcome to the podcast of ALPS, the conference that wants to make us aware of psychedelic science and its effects on the psyche. A whole program with many speakers from Switzerland, Europe and all over the world.

In this episode, syde welcomes Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes, Research Fellow and Lecturer at University of Exeter.

Dr. Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes is a philosopher of mind and metaphysics who specializes in the thought of Spinoza, Nietzsche and Whitehead, and in fields pertaining to altered and panpsychological states of consciousness. He has co-founded the Philosophy of Psychedelics Exeter Research Group.

Questions asked to Peter:

• Listening to your talk, how would you differentiate metaphysics and spirituality ?
• You also used the word ‘mysticism’ in your talk. How does that fit to metaphysics ?
• In your talk, you mentioned metaphysical experiences such as time distortion and connection with nature. Do psychedelics allow us to see anything else than hallucinations ?
• Could you explain why you wouldn’t integrate metaphysics in psychedelics research ?
• We see a lot of people involved in neuroscience, psychiatrists or psychologists interested in the psychedelics field. Why ?

More info on Peter : ted.com/talks/peter_sjostedt_h_understanding_consciousness_through_psychedelics alpsconference.com/speakers/peter-sjostedt   philosopher.eu 

This interview was recorded during the Alps Conference 2022 on psychedelic research in Bern, Switzerland on 28.10.2022. More info on the Alps Conference here