steiny@scc.UUCP (Don Steiny) (10/01/86)
*** Why do people take drugs? Well, I wouldn't claim to know from personal experience, but there are several books on the subject: "Doors To Perception and Heaven and Hell" Aldous Huxely "Brave New World and Brave New World Revisited" Aldous Huxely "The Teachings of Don Juan" Carlos Constanatas . . . numerous other books by Constanatas. and for a more twisted perspective: "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" Hunter Thompson. I think Huxley makes some interesting points. He points out that it seems to be a very normal thing for humans to get high (other animals do to). He said that we ought to put a prioriety on finding a drug that would fill human need to get high and do the least possible damage. He said that one of the problems with the U.S. and Western European culture is that tobacco and alcohol are such rotten drugs. As far as I know there has simply not been the kind of research necessary to make blanket statements about the relative "badness" of all drugs. What do we mean by "bad?" When is it harmful to take a drug? What harm does it do? In India they consider marijuana a "mind sharpening herb." In Jamaica they recommend that students smoke it to improve their concentration. Before we start our research, we have to agree what we mean by "health," "happiness." The Costanatas books talk of using drugs as a stepping stone to higher levels of consciousness. That is an other reason that many people have take drugs, to experience the world differently and possibly learn through it. The philosopher William James used to take laughing gas to get in an altered state. And of course, Hunter Thompson, who takes drugs because it is so much fun. He does not philosophize, he simply takes as many drugs as possible in every possible combination and then trys to deal with life as a reporter. -- scc!steiny Don Steiny @ Don Steiny Software 109 Torrey Pine Terrace Santa Cruz, Calif. 95060 (408) 425-0382
ruppert@apollo.uucp (Deborah J. Ruppert) (10/03/86)
Don Steiny gives some good references, but I'd like to make one *major* correction, so people can find the books: He writes: > "The Teachings of Don Juan" > Carlos Constanatas ^^^^^^^^^^ > > . . . numerous other books by Constanatas. ^^^^^^^^^^^ No, no...it's CASTENADAS, Carlos Castenadas. He wrote at least 3. They are worth reading. Deb Ruppert Apollo Computer