Jeremy Narby: The Future of Biology

The idea of a kind of intelligence active throughout nature is gaining support within the scientific community, affirming a view long held by indigenous people and shamans. Shamanic use of such plants as ayahuasca and tobacco deals centrally with contact with other beings including plants and animals. Ayahuasca and LSD enhance people's concern with the natural world. Hallucinogens are tools for exploring little-known facets of the human mind, for thinking ourselves as animals, and as predators, and for rethinking our place in nature and our relationship with other species. Biology has a date with shamanism and with altered states of consciousness. LSD - Problem Child and Wonder Drug International Symposium on the Occasion of the 100th Birthday of Albert Hofmann Sunday, 15 January 2006 in Basel