Paradigm Shifts, Human Experience, Panpsychism, and Psychedelics (dialoguing with Jack Roycroft-Sherry)

Jack and I discussed a number of topics, beginning with how science and philosophy might be demarcated. I suggest that science, born from natural philosophy, relies on metaphysical presuppositions and requires philosophical foundations to justify its knowledge claims. Philosophy seeks the general and universal, while science specializes in isolated regions of inquiry. Both are valuable and mutually constrain one another. 

We also discussed how scientific revolutions, such as the shift from a geocentric to a heliocentric model of the solar system, exemplify paradigm shifts that redefine not only our conceptual understanding of the universe, but our very interpretation of the perceptual gestalt. These shifts are as philosophical as they are scientific. I mention the growing pains of modern technoscience, including issues like climate change and mass extinction, emphasizing the need for ethical and moral reflection.

We also address the economic implications of scientific and technological progress. I criticized the reduction of human beings to self-interested rational actors in economic models, arguing that this perspective reduces us to our vices while overlooking human virtues and social complexities. I go on to suggest the possibility of different types of money for different economic activities.

The conversation then transitions to the topic of process philosophy, particularly the work of Whitehead, who offers a framework that integrates mind and matter, viewing the universe as a series of interconnected events with both physical and conceptual poles. This perspective is more compatible with contemporary scientific paradigms that emphasize complexity and self-organization.

We also explore the potential impact of psychedelics on science and philosophy, suggesting that these substances can enhance creativity and offer new insights into consciousness. I highlight the historical and ongoing use of psychedelics in scientific discovery and the importance of integrating these experiences into a broader understanding of human cognition and the natural world.