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Psychedelic Science: Psychology Pharmacology Physiology Psychotherapy Philosophy Religion Politics
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:29:13
Abstract
This lecture series covers psychedelic science mainly psychologically, and additionally pharmacologically, physiologically, psychotherapeutically, philosophically, religiously, and politically. All contributions will also be reflected on from the viewpoint of the humanities and psychology.
Objective
To provide students with a multidisciplinary introduction to psychedelic science, and to also comprehensively embed this in a reflection from a humanities/psychology viewpoint.
Content
Psychedelic science is a multidisciplinary field of study that involves scholars of the human sciences, the natural sciences, and the humanities. In this course, psychedelic science is presented mainly from the point of view of psychology, but will additionally also be considered from the viewpoints of pharmacology, physiology, psychotherapy, philosophy, religion, and politics. All contributions will also be reflected from the viewpoint of the humanities and psychology. The psychedelic studies treated in this course that involve humans focus on controlled and ethically approved studies where these substances are administered to medically screened, prepared, and supported participants. This course is in no way intended to encourage the private/illegal use of psychedelic substances. A psychedelic experience is occasioned by classic (serotonergic) psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, mescaline, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Psychologically, the psychedelic experience can be characterized as a temporary nonordinary state of consciousness (NSC) that basically differs from everyday waking consiousness in terms of all three traditionally identified components of the mind: cognition (perception and thought), affect (emotions and mood), and conation (volition, willpower). Psychedelic nonordinary cognition may for instance involve visions of geometric patterns or the perception of a subject-object transcending oneness; psychedelic nonordinary affect may for instance involve great anxiety, deepest sadness, or highest bliss; and psychedelic nonordinary conation may for instance involve themes such as surrendering to the psychedelic experience or letting go of emotionally difficult aspects of one’s life. Studying the psychedelic experience is a worthwhile endeavor. While psychedelic experiences can also be challenging/confrontational, they are often deeply meaningful to the individual experiencing them. Studies have shown that such experiences are often associated with enduring positive effects on attitudes, mood, and behavior in healthy individuals and—in conjunction with psychotherapy—with sustained symptom reductions in individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, and addiction (also showing some first promise for a number of other mental conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive and eating disorders). Psychedelic science is overall a large multidisciplinary effort that requires collaboration of scholars of the human sciences, the natural sciences, and the humanities to advance the scientific knowledge of it. In this spirit, this course involves—besides the main lecturer (PD Dr. phil. Kurt Stocker, a psychologist)—also further psychedelic-scientific scholars giving individual lectures in their respective field of expertise: psychology (PD Dr. phil. Katrin Preller, University of Zurich & Yale University), pharmacology (Dr. phil. nat. Dino Luethi, University Hospital Basel; Dr. phil. nat. Deborah Rudin, University Hospital Basel; Prof. Dr. phil. Linda Simmler, University of Basel), physiology (PD Dr. sc. nat. Felix Scholkmann, University of Zurich & University of Bern), psychotherapy (Prof. Dr. med. Gregor Hasler, University of Fribourg; Dr. med. Dr. sc. ETH Milan Scheidegger, University of Zurich), philosophy (Dr. Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes, University of Exeter), religion (Dr. Anne Vallely, University of Ottawa), and politics (Dr. phil Claudia G. Schwarz, Independent Guest Lecturer). By incorporating all these disciplines, the curricular goal of this ETH course is to cover psychedelic science from the large variety of major academic disciplines that are involved in this field, and to thus introduce psychedelic science to the students as broadly and comprehensibly as is possible within a single course.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DS , DR
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 423
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Psychedelic Science: Psychology Pharmacology Physiology Psychotherapy Philosophy Religion Politics |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Science in Perspective (In “Science in Perspective”-courses students learn to reflect on ETH’s STEM subjects from the perspective of humanities, political and social sciences. Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "Science in Perspective" courses.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (SiP courses are recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. All SiP courses are listed in Type A. Courses listed under Type B are only recommendations for enrollment for specific departments.)
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Type B: Reflection About Subject-Specific Methods and Contents (Subject-specific courses. Particularly relevant for students interested in those subjects. All these courses are also listed under the category “Typ A”, and every student can enroll in these courses.)
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Doctorate Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (More Information at: )