On Drugs - Psychedelics, Philosophy, and the narure of Reality

In the wake of a personal loss and the upheaval of the pandemic, Justin Smith-Ruiu found himself at a California cannabis dispensary, pondering a profound question: Who am I and how did I get here?
On Drugs blends memoir, investigative reporting and philosophical inquiry as Smith-Ruiu explores the impact of psychedelics on the mind and human consciousness. Drawing on a broad range of intellectual history and his personal experiences, he delves into how these substances challenge Western assumptions about reality, the self and existence. Psychedelics offer a path to a radically new way of thinking and a new philosophical lens that could reshape how we understand ourselves and our place in the universe.
On Drugs offers an insightful and thought-provoking exploration of mind-altering substances, their impact on modern thought and the very nature of reality.

About the author

Justin Smith-Ruiu is a professor of history and philosophy of science at the Université Paris Cité. He is the author, most recently, of The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is. He writes regularly for Harper’s, WIRED, the New York Times, and other publications. He lives in Paris.

Product details

• Authors: Justin Smith-Ruiu
• Publisher: Norton W W Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 23.09.2025
• EAN: 9781324094975
• ISBN: 978-1-324-09497-5
• Subjects: Education and learning > Teaching preparation > Vocational needs; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / Mind & Body, Philosophy of Mind, Psychology, PSYCHOLOGY / Cognitive Psychology & Cognition, PSYCHOLOGY / Mental Health, PHILOSOPHY / Individual Philosophers, Cognition & cognitive psychology, Cognition and cognitive psychology