CFP: Psychedelics as Technology

INTRODUCTION

In the international debate, there is growing attention to the subject of psychedelics, not only from a medical and clinical perspective, but also from a philosophical and cultural perspective. The basic idea of this school is that psychedelics are media, and that they should be investigated with the tools provided by the philosophy of technology, media theory and cultural history. The school offers an interdisciplinary space for discussion and debate on topics related to psychedelics, with a particular (but not exclusive) interest in the following themes:

• The description and sharing of psychedelic experience.
• The ethics and politics of psychedelic consumption.
• The cultural history of psychedelics.
• The psychedelic metaphor in the media and technology debate.

The school will take place in the Ravino Gardens, a botanical garden that hosts one of the largest collections of cacti in Europe. Several cactus species found in the Ravino Gardens are rich in the psychoactive alkaloid mescaline. Among them, the impressive Echinopsis pachanoi (San Pedro cactus), Echinopsis zamnesiana, and Echinopsis lageniformis (Bolivian torch cactus) stand out—species historically used in shamanic contexts.

STRUCTURE

The school provides the following activities:

• Talks by experts in the field of psychedelics (30-minute talk, 30-minute debate). Talks will take place in English.
• Public lectures open to the public (30-minute talk, 30-minute debate).
• Talks by students of the school. (30-minute talk, 30-minute debate).
• Group visit to the island of Ischia.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

(Further speakers TBA)

Mauro Cavarra (University of Maastricht)

Abigail Calder (University of Fribourg)

Jason Day (University of Fribourg)

Alessandro De Cesaris (University of Fribourg)

Vanessa Ossino (University of Cologne)

PUBLIC SPEAKERS

Mauro D’Alonzo (SIMEPSI)

Andrea Piva (Writer)

Francesco Parisi (University of Messina)

DM Tripson (Author)

PARTICIPATION

Participation requires payment of a €150 fee. Registration includes:

• Accommodation in Ischia from 27 October to 31 October (4 nights), in a shared room.
• Access to the Ravino Gardens for the duration of the event.
• Access to coffee breaks.
• Study materials.

You can apply as a student auditor or as a student speaker. In both cases, a short CV and a short motivation letter (500 words maximum) are required. For speakers, an abstract (500 words maximum) is required.

Submission can be sent to [email protected] by September 1st. Notification of acceptance will be sent by September 10th.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Jason K. Day

Alessandro De Cesaris

Francesco Parisi

PARTNERS

Giardini Ravino

Circolo “Georges Sadoul”, Ischia

Swiss National Science Foundation

University of Messina - COSPECS

Bookshop “Imagaenaria” - Ischia

INFO

[email protected]