Cognitive liberty
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Cognitive liberty is the freedom to be the absolute sovereign of one’s own consciousness. It is an extension of the concept of freedom of thought.
An individual who enjoys cognitive liberty is free to alter the state of their consciousness using any method they choose, including but not limited to meditation, yoga, psychotropic drugs, fasting, prayer, etc. Such an individual would also never be forced to change their consciousness against their will. So, for example, a child who is forced to consume Ritalin as a prerequisite for attending public school, does not enjoy cognitive liberty, nor does an individual who is forced to take anti-psychotics in order to be fit to stand trial, nor an individual who faces criminal charges and punishment for changing the state of their consciousness by consuming a mind-altering drug.
Timothy Leary has summarized this concept by postulating two new commandments for the molecular age:
- Thou shalt not alter the consciousness of thy fellow men.
- Thou shalt not prevent thy fellow man from changing his or her own consciousness. [1]
The primary proponents of this philosophy in the United States are the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- ACLU website
- CCLE website The Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics (ccle) coined the terms "cognitive liberty" and "cognitive security" in 2000.
- Cognitive Liberty Airwaves, radio series produced by Amanda Postula (co-host and engineer: Bill Huston), fall 2004 - spring 2005 on WHRW-FM, Binghamton NY; discussion of legal, medical, and religious issues around psychedelic drugs.
