Theory of Psychedelics:
The Combinatorial Evolution of Human Intelligence via
Symbiotic Catalysis with Entheogenic Molecules
by David Glen Kerr
Humans descended from primates. Charles Darwin enlightened humanity as to where we came from, by proposing that evolution occurred via natural selection. Humans evolved from primate ancestors, and they from mammals, and mammals from reptiles, and so on. Plants and other vegetation, which humans symbiotically depend on for nutrition necessary to live, have been on Earth during every step of our descent. Darwin saw an abstract pattern in nature: immense biological sequences increasing in complexity over time via evolution, feeding and building off each other, leading to organisms with brains that are artistic, creative, and intelligent. Why have primates evolved into man? Our ancestors utilized molecular tools for the mind, and these catalyzed the evolution of their brains.
The greatest divergence between primate and man is the mind, not the body. The human brain is significantly bigger, better, and more complex than the primate brain. In the bodies the differences are primarily of degree; hence, it is our brains that classify our separation from other simians. The brain is made of specialized segments, which are divided into cells, neurons, axons, synapses, and other parts. These are all made of molecular structures and chemicals, founded on atoms, protons, neutrons, fermions, bosons, quarks, etc. It is on the molecular and neuronal level that we are able to turn to today to find answers about our consciousness.
As simian brains increased in spatial volume, they increased in beneficial complexity, by using the additional mass as material with which to transform. The brain was catalyzed to achieve this end, and it used catalysts found in naturally occurring materials. These substances have been termed psychoactive drugs: sugar, nicotine, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, psilocin, cannabanoids, mescaline, morphine, ibogaine, DMT, cocaine, theobromine, LSA, MAOIs, and so on. The brain?s neural network uses these chemicals to provide a physical means to modify and create new thoughts, which enhances reasoning and creativity. It is in the brain of the animal that uses these tools properly, which successfully evolved sentience. Simians were able to evolve adaptations to an environment where mushrooms and other plants around them were literal food for thought.
A conceptual expression for this theory is:
Humans = Primates + Psychedelics
The psychoactive mushroom (Amanitas, p. cubensis, et al) contains psilocybin, which the body purposely converts into psilocin to be used by the synapses in the frontal cortex. A few hours later the body removes psilocin from the blood by releasing anti-tryptamines. In this state psilocin has been termed psychedelic, which etymologically translates to ?mind-manifesting?: psyche, ?mind,? and delic, ?manifesting?. Yet the word has been deeply misused, giving the impression that the mushroom produces psychedelic experiences. It does not. The mushroom simply harbors a molecule, which does not do anything interesting per say. Psilocin is only psychedelic when the brain uses it.
The first higher order simians were born in Africa and were black. They discovered the mushroom on the ground and ate it as food, perhaps as a part of routine vegetation foraging, or perhaps they were starving since the mushroom isn?t pleasant tasting. Their synapses began receiving psilocin, causing neurons to light up like fireworks, which made their brain operate so fast that time appeared to slow down. Intense thoughts occurred, creating beautiful hallucinated visions, overwhelmed by the ecstatic feeling of worldly connection. These simians would have acted in new and bizarre ways that formed social bonding. They had thoughts so complex that they were unable to be held in memory. This behavior created selection pressure on the monkeys, causing evolution of better brains, in order to understand each other?s actions. At some point, they realized the mushroom was causing these experiences, and could regulate their dietary intake.
The serotonin (5-HT) class of synaptic receptors, which accept psilocin and other entheogens, are structures in the frontal cortex that allow us to perform higher cognitive functions. Natural selection favored production of these structures, because the more that the brain had, the better it could use psilocin. Thus the smarter it was, sober or intoxicated. Hangover effects from pure mushroom experiences are soft, especially when compared to hard drugs such as alcohol and cocaine. This is because the brain has evolved to handle psychedelics. The pineal gland, sitting in the center of every human brain, may be the producer of endogenous DMT in humans, the most potent psychedelic tryptamine known.
Mushroom and entheogenic plant consumption has gone on throughout the entire of human history, including today. These plants are not poisonous, but they contain powerful tools, and therefore are dangerous. Use the right tool for the right job! If humans eat these psychedelic plants under improper conditions, their experiences will be terrible and therefore damaging to the psyche. Fortunately, shamans throughout history have provided a proper outlet for these experiences. Humans who are otherwise ignorant to psychedelics have had a means to constructively experience conscious-expanding states.
The smartest and most successful cultures are the ones consuming the most variety of drugs, and are defined and limited, harnessed and hampered by the drugs they do and how they do them. How a drug is used is more important than the drug itself. A society?s history of drug use contributes to their society today. Caffeine and nicotine spread all over the world, as did alcohol and the wisdom to ferment it from plant fruit. The USA has a high array of drug use, including legendary LSD consumption. All these drugs are used to alter the mind in order to gain additional perspectives, new ways to think. Without them, humanity would not be as intelligent as we are today.
Drugs are making humanity smarter. We are already creating new psychedelic tools: MDMA, LSD, 2C-B, 2C-T-7, in addition to pain relievers, anti-depressants, and a long list of other pharmaceutical chemicals and medicines. The true benefits lie in consumption of varieties, not large quantities. It is in precise and responsible use, and in the realization that every drug has unique effects. Each drug has a different use and different purpose. Alcohol enhances socialization, caffeine enhances logic, cannabis enhances abstraction, psilocin enhances creativity, and so on. At the same time, every drug has downsides and negative effects, which can be minimized or eliminated through careful use.
Psychedelics change the way individuals think, and therefore the way individuals act. Their actions, words, and attitudes affect those around them. This process is how psychedelic drugs indirectly affect the minds of those who do not even ingest them or believe in their existence. Howard Bloom?s vision of a global brain provides an excellent framework in which to understand this effect. As one person changes behavior, the people in the social network adjust to adapt. The influence spirals outwards and decreases over distance.
Terrence McKenna proposed the idea of mushrooms affecting human evolution. If true, this theory predicts that when apes are fed a proper diet of mushrooms, they will become smarter. The diet must be considered carefully. It must not be force fed or given in large doses. It must be naturally eaten and not injected, and proper set and setting must be given. Behavioral changes will give rise to increased adaptive intelligence over generations, and will even cause advantage in the first generation. This kind of research has not been conducted yet.
PS. The original formula is "Man=Ape+Mushroom", or "Man=Monkey+Mushroom"
Edited by pattern (01/15/07 03:06 PM)
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just one thought provoking experience mushrooms could make on something
peace man.
DoctorJ
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