Carl Sagan seems to think so, though I couldn’t say if it fits your definition for a genuine philosophical revelation.
Well, Henri Michaux’s mescaline books, if not written on mesc, are fairly philosophical.
Walter Benjamin’s short essay “Hashish in Marseilles” is, more or less, a scholarly diary.
I’ve heard Foucault, while taking acid, started crying and announcing he finally understood the end of Under the Volcano. I guess that’s a pretty good insight.
John Hopkins’ study finds that magic mushrooms are beneficial.
You’re joking, right?
I guess not.
Maybe, maybe not. But so what? One can also argue that “Lucy…” wouldn’t have been written if John hadn’t experienced any acid trips which would leave us without that fine song.
I had a pretty enlightening experience on mushrooms back in the day.
But then, I’ve had several much more interesting and enlightening experiences (look up Kensho and Satori) while not on drugs.
Fair enough, Malthus. Just didn’t want people who have never tried it getting the wrong impression when you said it didn’t cause hallucinations.
I’ve read the Erowid vault on Datura (Jimson Weed) before, actually, but never did (and never would) actually try it. Another really fascinating one purported to bring about “true” hallucinations is Belladonna. Check out some of the experience reports - now that is some scary shit. Not recommended for trying at home.
Yeah, we are on the same page. Reason I made the comment is that people who have never done hallucinogens are often of the opinion, because of their name and the anti-drug scare message many have heard, that LSD causes people to see stuff that is not there, to “attempt to fly”, etc.
Now, there are some drugs reputed to do that, but they are not commonly used - like Jimson Weed, Belladonna, etc. What I’ve heard is that the experience is so unpleasant that few do such things more than once.
Heh, reading those confirms my feeling that such things are better read about than attempted … pretty well every one ends with some variation on “the most horrific experience, ever”. 
Well, does “Whoa… this cell in my finger could be a whole universe” count as a genuine philosophical revelation?
Or do drugs just make silly ideas seem profound?
nm.
.
No one has mentioned Francis Crick and his use of LSD to help puzzle out the structure of DNA?
Well, I don’t know about ‘philosophical’, but having a couple beers and talking things over with a buddy has often helped me to see things in a better way.
Bob Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, had a philosophical revelation while at Towns Hospital under Dr. William Silkworth’s care. Wilson was administered a drug cure concocted by Charles B. Towns. Known as the Belladonna Cure, it contained the deliriants Belladonna and Hyoscyamus niger, which cause hallucinations. It was while undergoing this treatment that Wilson experienced his “Hot Flash” spiritual conversion. While lying in bed depressed and despairing, Wilson cried out: “I’ll do anything! Anything at all! If there be a God, let Him show Himself!” He then had the sensation of a bright light, a feeling of ecstasy, and a new serenity.
Upon his release from the hospital on December 18, 1934, Wilson moved from the Calvary Rescue Mission to the Oxford meetings at Calvary House. There Wilson socialized after the meetings with other ex-drinking Oxfords and became interested in learning how to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. It was during this time that Wilson went on a crusade to save alcoholics. This led to the publishing of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1939 and the creation of the twelve-step method.
The clouds of smoke danced
Along the ceiling dripping worms
Dare not befall from precipice
For the sea of wriggling squirm
Through the candle twisted shadows
Their pointy starring grins
Twinkling blue green marbles
Furry daggers clutching skin
Describable as, Time was able to be experienced as Before, Now and Then from the same point of reference, beholden a different perspective on it all.
I never did that shit again…:eek:
mushrooms + cats