Intoxication

Drunks, like children, always tell the truth. And after a night (or day) of drinking, everyone turns into a professional philosopher! What is it about intoxication that incites us to philosophize, to “wax poetic”? In episode 41, David and Ellie explore the theme of intoxication all the way from the wine-filled feasts of the ancient Greeks to contemporary debates about psychedelic drugs. They look at the fascinating “ergot hypothesis,” which holds that famous philosophers such as Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle came up with their most important metaphysical insights while tripping on an ancient psychedelic called “ergot.” And they consider what experiences of intoxication can teach us about power, privilege, and freedom.Works DiscussedCarl Hart, Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of FearPlato, The SymposiumR. Gordon Wasson, Albert Hofmann, and Carl A. P. Ruck, The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the MysteriesMichael Pollan, How to Change Your MindEvgenia Fotiou "The globalization of ayahuasca shamanism and the erasure of indigenous shamanism" Marty Roth, Drunk the Night Before: An Anatomy of Intoxication Jean-Luc Nancy, IntoxicationImmanuel Kant, The Metaphysics of MoralsMaggie Nelson, On FreedomJacques Derrida, Plato’s PharmacySupport the showSubstack | overthinkpod.substack.com Website | overthinkpodcast.comInstagram & Twitter | @overthink_podEmail | [email protected] | Overthink podcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.