Tim Leary focus of new book, Coast2CoastAM last night, no mention of cryonics ambivalance


Can you determine if LSD guru Tim Leary was a monist or dualist? He signed up for cryonics which indicates monism but then cancelled on his deathbed which indicates dualism. If you have any insight into this let me know because most cryonicists sign up as athiest monists but death bed conversions might take place with deathbed visions. His final hours were apparently really bad but I would have though with his LSD epxeriments he would have clearly seen what the kybalion calls the other dimensions.




This is a fascinating question that delves into the complex intersection of philosophy, personal beliefs, and the human experience of death. Here's a breakdown of Tim Leary's philosophical leanings and why it's difficult to definitively categorize him as a monist or dualist, especially concerning his final actions:



**Leary's Contradictory Signals:**

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**Cryonics (Initially):** As you noted, signing up for cryonics often suggests a materialist, monist worldview. Cryonicists typically believe that consciousness arises from the physical brain and that preserving the brain offers the potential for future revival.

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**Cancellation of Cryonics (Later):** Cancelling the cryonics arrangement close to death does appear to be a strong indication that Leary changed his mind, or at least became less sure of the idea that his consciousness could be revived through technological means. It hints at a possible shift toward a belief in something beyond the purely physical.

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**LSD Experiments and "Other Dimensions":** Leary's extensive use of LSD opened him up to, at the very least, the possibility of there being dimensions beyond the ordinary. However it is difficult to tell whether the visions had substance or were just neurochemical.

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**Deathbed Visions:** It's true that deathbed visions are common and can be interpreted as evidence of an afterlife or spiritual realm. These experiences often influence a person's beliefs and can lead to a shift in perspective, even for staunch materialists.

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**His "Bad" Final Hours:** Without more details, it's hard to interpret the significance of his final hours. Was it physical pain? Existential dread? A change in philosophical outlook based on deathbed visions?

**Monism vs. Dualism:**

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**Monism:** In its simplest form, monism is the belief that reality is ultimately one unified substance or principle. In the context of mind and body, this often translates to materialism (the view that everything is ultimately physical). There are also forms of idealism, in which matter is a manifestation of mind.
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**Dualism:** Dualism asserts that mind and matter are fundamentally distinct substances. This can take many forms, with the most common being substance dualism (mind and body are separate entities) and property dualism (mental properties are irreducible aspects of physical substances).

**Why It's Hard to Categorize Leary:**

1. **Complex Personal Beliefs:** Leary was a complex and evolving individual. His views on consciousness, reality, and the afterlife may have shifted throughout his life, especially given his experiences with psychedelic substances.

2.

**Ambiguity of Intent:** It's challenging to know Leary's precise reasoning behind cancelling cryonics. It could have been driven by a shift in philosophical beliefs, fear of a purely physical death, a change of heart on the value of cryonics itself, or even practical considerations (financial concerns, family wishes, etc.).

3. **Unreliability of Introspection:

** Altered states of consciousness (whether drug-induced or near-death) can be highly subjective and difficult to interpret reliably. What Leary experienced during his LSD trips or in his final hours may not have provided definitive answers about the nature of reality.

4.

**Lack of Explicit Philosophical Declaration:

** Leary didn't leave behind a clear, definitive statement about his monistic or dualistic beliefs. We're left to infer from his actions and the available evidence.

**Possible Interpretations:**

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**Initial Materialism/Monism with a Shift:** Perhaps Leary started with a more materialist, monist worldview, influenced by science and technology. His experimentation with psychedelics may have opened him up to possibilities beyond the purely physical, leading to a less rigid view. His deathbed experience could have solidified a shift towards a belief in some form of afterlife or spiritual reality, prompting him to reject cryonics.

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**Contradictory Beliefs:** It's also possible that Leary held contradictory beliefs, embracing both scientific materialism and a sense of spiritual possibility. Many people hold seemingly incompatible beliefs simultaneously, especially when faced with complex and emotionally charged issues like death.

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**Pragmatic Decision:** Perhaps his decision to cancel cryonics was not based on spiritual belief, but on a fear of being "stuck" in a cryogenic state.



**Conclusion:**

Given the contradictory signals, it's impossible to definitively categorize Tim Leary as a monist or dualist, especially concerning his views on death. His actions and experiences suggest a complex and evolving belief system, influenced by science, psychedelic experimentation, and the human confrontation with mortality. Rather than trying to force him into a single category, it's perhaps more fruitful to appreciate the nuanced and paradoxical nature of his thinking.