Earl Fontainelle is a historian of ideas working on the intersections between religion, philosophy, science, and consciousness. He produces the Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (www.shwep.net).
Colloquium Presentation: 17 May 2024
Abstract
Ancient Platonism and the Study of Psychedelics
Platonism was an ancient school of thought and way of life encompassing the metaphysical and physical, daily life and exalted contemplation, and promoting a host of practices aimed at producing highly-altered states of consciousness (or being) in its adepts. We shall survey some of the evidence for ancient Platonist practices, contextualise these in the context of contemporary texts of Platonising religion and cognate magical practices, and discuss the value of Platonism as a potential inroad into realms of consciousness often termed ‘psychedelic’.