CFA: Philosophers on Drugs: Essays on the Metaphysics\, Epistemology\, and Ethics of Psychoactive Drug Use
\nTopic Areas
\nMetaphysics\, Epistemology\, and Ethics
\nDetails
\nAbstracts are sought for an edited volume of essays on the metaphysics\, epistemology\, and ethics of psychoactive (mind-altering) substance use.
\nAbout the Editor
\nRob Lovering is Professor of Philosophy at City University of New York - College of Staten Island. \; He is the author of A Moral Defense of Prostitution (Palgrave Macmillan\, 2021)\, A Moral Defense of Recreational Drug Use (Palgrave Macmillan\, 2015)\, God and Evidence: Problems for Theistic Philosophers (Bloomsbury Academic\, 2013)\, and numerous articles on topics in ethics and the philosophy of religion. \; For more information\, see Professor Lovering&rsquo\;s PhilPeople page.
\nContributor Guidelines
\nSend an abstract consisting of no more than 300 words to rob.lovering@csi.cuny.edu (the subject of the email should read &ldquo\;Philosophers on Drugs&rdquo\;). \; \;
\nUpon receiving a sufficient number of suitable abstracts\, the editor will notify those whose abstracts have been accepted and submit book proposals to leading philosophy publishers. \;
\nSuggested Topics
\nIt is preferred that authors address one or more of the following topics\, but submissions on topics not explicitly mentioned here are welcome as well.
\nMetaphysics
\nFree Will
\nWith which theory on free will does the phenomenon of drug-induced mind-altering experiences and their impact on behavior comport best? \;Skepticism? \;Compatibilism? \; Libertarianism?
\nCan mind-altering drug use ever be performed freely?
\nWhat distinguishes cases of mind-altering drug use that negate one&rsquo\;s free will from cases of mind-altering drug use that do not negate one&rsquo\;s free will?
\nTo what extent\, if any\, does drug addiction pose a special challenge to free will?
\nTo what extent\, if any\, can the use of mind-altering drugs expand one&rsquo\;s capacity for exercising free will?
\nFrom the compatibilist perspective\, what is it about mind-altering drugs&rsquo\; impact on one&rsquo\;s minds that poses a special threat to free will that we don&rsquo\;t find with other possible deterministic causes of one&rsquo\;s behavior?
\nPersonal Identity
\nWith which account of personal identity does the phenomenon of drug-induced mind-altering experiences comport best? \;The bodily account? \;The psychological account? \;The soul account? \; The embodied-mind account? \; Some other account?
\nIs it possible to destroy personal identity through one or more drug-induced mind-altering experiences? \; If so\, how likely is this and in what kinds of circumstances is this likely to occur? \; \; \; \;
\nMind
\nWhat does the phenomenon of drug-induced mind-altering experiences tell us about the nature of the mind?
\nDoes the fact that nonhuman animals appear to enjoy ingesting certain naturally occurring substances that cause mind-altering experiences suggest that our minds are naturally geared towards seeking the kinds of mind-altering experiences offered by some drugs?
\nIn what ways are drug-induced mind-altering experiences different from those that are not drug induced (e.g.\, mind-altering experiences induced by amusement-park rides\, athletic activities\, the arts\, etc.)? \; In what ways are they the same?
\nTo what extent\, if any\, do drug-induced mind-altering experiences enhance one&rsquo\;s self-awareness? \; To what extent do they inhibit one&rsquo\;s self-awareness?
\nTo what extent\, if any\, do drug-induced mind-altering experiences interfere with one&rsquo\;s agency?
\nAre drug-induced mind-altering experiences unnatural\, metaphysically speaking\, in any way?
\nWhat kind of mind is required in order to enjoy a drug-induced mind-altering experience?
\nCan one learn to enjoy a drug-induced mind-altering experience? \; Must one learn to enjoy certain drug-induced mind-altering experiences\, if they are to be enjoyed at all?
\nEpistemology
\nAnalysis of Knowledge
\nWhat\, if anything\, does the phenomenon of drug-induced mind-altering experiences tell us about the nature of knowledge? \; Of justification? \; Of belief? \; Of truth? \; Of warrant?
\nKnowledge Instantiation
\nWhat kinds of things\, if any\, can one know or be justified in believing while undergoing a drug-induced mind-altering experience? \; What kinds of things\, if any\, can&rsquo\;t one know or be justified in believing while doing so? \; Do the answers to these questions depend on the number or kind of drug-induced mind-altering experiences one has?
\nTo what extent\, if any\, do drug-induced mind-altering experiences enhance self-understanding? \; To what extent do they inhibit self-understanding? \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;
\nIn what ways are drug-induced mind-altering experiences illusory? \; In what ways aren&rsquo\;t they illusory?
\nWhich theory of justification most accurately represents how justification proceeds in the drug-induced altered mind? \; Foundationalism? \; Coherentism? \; Reliabilism? \; Some other theory?
\nSources of Knowledge
\nMight a drug-induced mind-altering experience be required for certain kinds of knowledge? \; For certain objects of knowledge?
\nIn what ways are the standard sources of knowledge (reason\, the senses\, etc.) enhanced by drug-induced mind-altering experiences? \; In what ways are they inhibited?
\nMight drug-induced mind-altering experiences be conducive\, or even required\, for (certain kinds of) religious knowledge?
\nEthics
\nValue
\nIn what ways\, if any\, are drug-induced mind-altering experiences superior to mind-altering experiences that are not drug induced? \; In what ways are they inferior?
\nIs a life that includes some drug-induced mind-altering experiences better than a life that does not?
\nIn what way\, if any\, is drug addiction bad? \; Can addiction to a drug ever be good?
\nWhat does the fact that drug-induced mind-altering experiences are desired by some people tell us about the desirability of existing in a Nozickian experience machine? \; \; \;
\nMorality
\nWhat is the moral status of pursuing or having a drug-induced mind-altering experience?
\nIf one is addicted to a particular mind-altering drug\, is one&rsquo\;s use of that drug thereby immoral?
\nWhen one uses a mind-altering drug for recreational purposes\, does one thereby treat oneself as a mere means to an end? \; If so\, is there anything wrong with that?
\nIs the mere risk of addiction sufficient to render the use of mind-altering drugs immoral?
\nIs the use of a mind-altering drug morally permissible when it has no non-negligible effects on others?
\nAssuming drug-induced mind-altering experiences are partly illusory in nature\, is it wrong to pursue or have them?
\nIf drug-induced mind-altering experiences are unnatural in one way or another\, are they thereby immoral?
\nIs there anything wrong with enhancing an aesthetic experience via mind-altering drug use?
\nIn what way\, if any\, is the use of drugs that serve as cognitive enhancers morally problematic? \; Could the use of drugs that serve as cognitive enhancers ever be morally obligatory?
\nIs it immoral to teach young adults how to use mind-altering drugs responsibly? \; Is it morally problematic not to teach them how to do so? \; What is &ldquo\;responsible&rdquo\; mind-altering drug use\, anyway\, and how likely is it? \; Is it even possible?
\nLegality
\nShould use of a mind-altering drug for recreational purposes be criminalized? \; Decriminalized? \; Legalized? \;
\nIf criminalized\, what should be the legal punishment for using a mind-altering drug for recreational purposes?
\nIf decriminalized or legalized\, how should the use of a mind-altering drug for recreational purposes be regulated? \; \; \; \;
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