The War on Consciousness

[RainDog]

this is a link to a TED talk that was taken down because it was too controversial. I haven't watched all of it yet, but wanted to share with others if anyone wanted to discuss this - since the points I've heard thus far are things that have been discussed here.

...I'm talking about the use of plant-based medicine/substances for addiction - but the talk caught my attention, as well, because of the initial mention of the idea of the evolution of human consciousness with the use of consciousness-altering plants (and the ceremonies associated with them.)

Since some studies have indicated some of the plants shut down one part of the brain, while others may flood the brain, temporarily, with one or more neurochemicals, such as seratonin - it's an interesting idea to ponder if humans developed their abstract intelligence via their plant environment.

when people talk about evolution and environment, they focus, often, on big issues, like climate changes, that create difficult situations for humans (or other species, for that matter.) Are we so indoctrinated by an ideology of struggle and competition that we overlook the possibility that our evolution has also been influenced by the plants that existed in a complementary relationship with humans?

I know I will always come down on the empirical side of most any argument about the whys and hows of something - but I don't think, in this case, the empirical is lost in the points the speaker makes, while acknowledging the tensions between his thesis and some aspects of empirical evidence.

http://evolverlearninglab.com/collections/courses/products/the-war-on-consciousness-what-it-means-for-you