Psychedelic moral enhancement and the limits of medical-therapeutic paradigm (Juuso Kähönen, P25)

This is a recording of the talk "Psychedelic moral enhancement and the limits of medical-therapeutic paradigm" in the session "Psychedelics beyond Therapy" of our Psykedeelit 2025 conference, held in October 2025. Juuso Kähönen (Doctoral Researcher, University of Helsinki; The Finnish Association for Psychedelic Research) describes the talk: "I examine the limitations imposed by the dominant therapeutic model of psychedelic use and explore the rationale for psychedelic moral enhancement—the purposive use of psychedelics to cultivate ethical, spiritual, and ecological sensibilities. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is currently the sanctioned model of psychedelic use in Western contexts. Arguably, this situation reflects historical contingencies rather than the intrinsic nature or full potential of psychedelics, as suggested by the rich cross-cultural and historical uses for a wider array of constructive societal functions (such as fostering community, education, rites of passage, spirituality and so forth). We should ask whether the medical-therapeutic framing imposes too narrow a box for the sanctioned and structured use of psychedelics in modern societies and prevents the development of other societally beneficial ways to use them. Given the looming ecological catastrophe(s) and increased moral demands placed by technological progress, philosophers and scholars have enquired into methods of improving human moral capabilities. In this context, psychedelics have been proposed as tools for moral transformation, aimed at fostering ethical and ecological growth and transformation rather than solely treating pathology. I examine the existing critiques of the medical-therapeutic paradigm and the emerging literature and the main arguments for psychedelic moral enhancement. If psychedelics may function as agents capable of supporting ethical and spiritual development, I argue that clinical frameworks are too narrow to realise this potential, as their value neutrality and instrumental aims constrain deeper forms of moral engagement. Unlocking these potentials in a sustainable manner requires value-laden, ethically grounded contexts that empower local communities and support sustained ethical reflection, development and action. I illustrate this through an example of using psychedelics to promote sustainability-aligned values, as proposed in my recent article (under review). I conclude by calling for a broader research agenda that engages with the extra-therapeutic potentials of psychedelics." About Psykedeelit 2025: https://psyty.fi/psykedeelit2025 • • • • • The Finnish Association for Psychedelic Research (Psykedeelitutkimusyhdistys ry) is a multidisciplinary association founded in December 2016 with the goals of promoting scientific research related to psychedelics and the availability of accessible information based on such research. We encourage you to become a member – more info at http://psyty.fi/mukaan. We also accept donations, more info at https://psyty.fi/lahjoita. More on Psyty: https://psyty.fi Our social media channels: Facebook:   / psyty   X: http://x.com/psytyfi Instagram:   / psyty   LinkedIn:   / psyty   Telegram: https://t.me/psytyfi Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/psytyfi.bsky...