“Just a Tool”: What Scientists and Philosophers Say About LSD

Today, the world is experiencing a kind of “psychedelic renaissance.” Many countries are lifting bans on researching the effects of LSD on humans, and scientists are finding new ways to use psychedelics for medical purposes—such as palliative care, treating anxiety disorders, and alcoholism. This has sparked a huge new wave of interest in these substances and the idea of “hacking consciousness.” But what makes this situation so complex? Let’s look at the experiences of writer Aldous Huxley, neuroscientist Sam Harris, and philosopher Alan Watts to understand why people throughout history have turned to mind-altering substances, what questions psychedelics can’t answer, and why ecstasy is not the goal but a means—an experience that not everyone can process.

Background

British writer Gerald Heard, known for his scientific works on human history and consciousness, experimented with LSD earlier than most, around the mid-1950s. His experiences and views of LSD as a catalyst for near-religious revelations inspired other thinkers to try it, including writer Aldous Huxley and psychedelic era pioneer Timothy Leary. In an interview for Waking Bliss, Heard described his experience:

There are colors and beauty, forms, incredible forms of things… But that’s just the beginning. Suddenly you notice there’s no separation. You’re not sitting on a deserted island trying to reach or understand someone. You just know. You repeat one word to yourself: empathy.

Decades of strict bans on drug research severely limited the ability to study the full spectrum of hallucinogens’ effects on the human body. Today, as we experience a “small psychedelic renaissance,” several trends are emerging:

• There’s a growing number of medical studies on all types of psychedelics, helping to find ways to use them in treating mental health disorders.
• The phenomenon of “microdosing”—taking small amounts of LSD for benefits without strong hallucinations—is becoming more popular, even in Silicon Valley.

But beyond the medical side, what else should we consider about psychedelics in everyday life? Let’s turn to the experiences of thinkers who have tried hallucinogens themselves.

Aldous Huxley

British thinker Aldous Huxley, best known for his novel Brave New World, experimented with psychedelics in the late 1950s. His experiences are recorded in his essays The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell. Huxley believed that substances like mescaline and LSD allow us to see the world “as it is,” not just as we usually perceive it—a way more suited for survival. He called this perspective “Mind at Large” and thought it held a happy future for everyone.

Huxley noted that for thousands of years, every culture has sought substances to escape reality. In his view, psychedelics are the least harmful alternative to tobacco and alcohol, offering not just an escape from daily life but also a mystical initiation.

However, Huxley also believed that LSD should not be widely available. At the end of his book, he writes that psychedelics do not provide enlightenment but can be useful for thinkers who work with words and symbols. What began as a chance experiment became a lifelong interest; on his deathbed, he asked his wife to give him an injection of LSD, and she honored his request.

Sam Harris: Can Psychedelics Expand Consciousness?

Sam Harris, an American neuroscientist and leading figure in New Atheism, experimented with MDMA to observe its effects on the mind. This experience led him to feel a deep connection with every living being on Earth. The trip was so powerful that it took him years to fully process what he had felt.

Although Harris is a proponent of secular (non-religious) meditation, he believes it doesn’t work for everyone. While psychedelics don’t have this problem (as long as you know the right dose), Harris is convinced that everything psychedelics offer can be achieved without them. He describes his experience:

My experience with drugs changed my view of human potential. I tried MDMA before it became a club drug in 1987, when it was still used for psychotherapy. My friend and I took it and had a very long conversation. We became more and more honest in our thoughts and feelings. The only scary part was that you completely lose concentration.

In that state, I saw myself through my friend’s eyes—it was a moment of awareness, and I realized I loved my friend and just wanted him to be happy. It was a revolutionary insight; my ego completely dissolved. Later, I realized I would feel something similar toward anyone who entered the room, any living being, even the mailman. This experience blew my mind, and for years I tried to integrate it into my intellectual life.

Later, I had other spiritual experiences, like meditating in Nepal, so I can confidently say you can reach such states without drugs.

Alan Watts: “I Don’t Think I’d Be Upset If LSD Disappeared Tomorrow”

British philosopher Alan Watts, known for popularizing Eastern philosophy in the West, also experimented with LSD and other drugs. He believed LSD gives “flashes” of spirituality and helps people realize their connection to the universe, but this experience should never be seen as an end in itself.

I don’t think I’d be upset if LSD disappeared from the planet tomorrow. I’ve found that trips shouldn’t be frequent, like going to church. It’s something to take in small doses, spread out over time. Much depends on whether you can integrate the psychedelic experience into your life and combine it with everything you already know.

But there’s another group of people who think that by increasing the dose each time, they’ll find some ultimate answer, as if there’s a final solution. They turn psychedelics into a diet.

Any practice, whether yoga or taking LSD, is meant for spiritual awakening. The state of ecstasy that comes with it is only a transitional state in all religions. In Zen Buddhism, when satori (awakening) comes, you feel ecstasy, like you’re walking in the fresh air, invulnerable and happy like a lark. It’s like a fantastic explosion.

There’s a saying that a monk who reaches satori is shot straight to hell. That’s because he starts clinging to the experience. If you think ecstasy is the key part of the psychedelic experience, it’s not. It’s just a stage you’ll return from to your everyday life. But remember, everyday life as it is—a great thing. Buddha said there’s no difference between it and the divine.

Later, Watts summed up his view on drug use:

When you get the message, hang up the phone. Psychedelics are just tools, like a microscope, telescope, or telephone. A biologist doesn’t always stare into a microscope; he goes and works with what he’s seen.

Other Thinkers and Final Thoughts

Of course, there are other thinkers who tried LSD and could share much about it—like George Carlin, Richard Feynman, and Steve Jobs. There were also celebrities less inclined to philosophy who gained new experiences with LSD: Jimi Hendrix, Ken Kesey, Cary Grant, and George Harrison.

While these icons of art and science differ in their opinions on the benefits of psychedelics, they agree on one thing: the hallucinogenic effect is not positive for everyone.

Therefore, none of the above should be taken as an endorsement of psychedelic use. Any hallucinogen can be dangerous—if not for physical health, then for mental health.

Perhaps Sam Harris put it best:

I’m not saying everyone should try psychedelics… These substances carry certain risks. There are people who can’t afford even the slightest leap beyond the boundaries of reason.

As the West continues to weigh the pros and cons of various chemicals, the insights of these thoughtful individuals should be part of the discussion.