While the crowd at Psychedelic Science 2017 went wild, other scientists still hesitate at accepting the Stoned Ape hypothesis. Here is everything you need to know about ‘Stoned Ape Theory’! In the manure left by the animals, mushrooms begin to grow. In a nutshell, the Stoned Ape Theory says that magic mushrooms sped up the evolutionary process and that, ultimately, the psychedelic experience is responsible for the origin of the human mind, language and culture. The exact timeline for the emergence of consciousness varies, but Dennis believes the process may have begun as far back as 2 million years ago. He just snorted and chuckled. TIL of The Stoned Ape Theory, which is a controversial theory from Terence McKenna which states that a lot of our advanced human evolution came as a result of the ingestion of psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms by our primate ancestors. McKenna's theory was called the "Stoned Ape Hypothesis." In fact, McKenna also maintained that increased sexual arousal due to ingestion of shrooms (this has not been proven) would have further benefited the growth of population. The psilocybin in the mushrooms, behaves exactly as it does today, opening the minds of its consumers. Dennis, however, stresses that the stoned ape hypothesis is not meant to stand as the lone factor in human evolution. Early fossil evidence suggests that Homo sapiens first emerged in Africa around 300,000 years ago. (Page of tag stoned ape theory) ... scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts that have yet to be discovered and explained. First proposed by 20th century ethnobotanist Terence McKenna (1946-2000) in his 1992 book “Food of the … The stoned ape hypothesis is not likely to leap to the level of scientific theory in the foreseeable future, but the sort of modern psychedelic reconnection that Terence McKenna and others advocated might well come to pass — especially as more studies examine potential therapeutic uses. stoned ape theory Mckenna spent the last twenty-five years of his life studying the ontological foundations of shamanism, in digesting mushrooms, yopo snuff, and ayahuasca. I used to be one of those people who made that judgement, but as I shed through the layers of social conditioning and actually researched these substances for myself, a lot of what Terence theorizes makes a lot of sense. "It's not heavily referenced but the key references are there. "Rereading it after nearly 30 years, I remain impressed by how thoughtful it is," Dennis says, who wrote a new forward for the book. Mycological Society of America Student Section. McKenna’s theory isn’t one that has gained a lot of support among the scientific community, but one could argue it’s just as plausible as many of the other evolutionary... Read more » Jan 27, 2021. Terence McKenna (1946- 2000), was an American ethnobotanist, author, lecturer and psychedelics advocate. Fire mastery and the emergence of cooking technology improved nutrition and made room for greater cultural and societal advancement. Even the development of language can be linked with the hypothesis. Why Do People Usually Walk In the Same Direction? 1 talking about this. However, how early humans developed consciousness remains shrouded in mystery. final thoughts on the stoned ape theory So, regardless of what side of the fence you’re on, the stoned ape theory is as interesting as they come. Yet while the book is full of the author's signature wit and vision, it is also, in the words of science writer John Horgan, a serious work that presents a rigorous argument. Despite this, it remains a compelling argument to consider in relation to a question that may never get a definite answer. A theory is a hypothesis (a proposed explanation or idea) that is backed up by proven evidence. He was less enthralled with synthetic drugs, stating, "I think drugs should come from the natural world and be use-tested by shamanically orientated … And maybe, just maybe, if mushrooms were present and played a role that catapulted our species into history, maybe now, as history is ending and we transition to some kind of post historical existence, they are there to guide us in that process. There were many factors that influenced evolution.". Did psychedelics stimulate human consciousness? So well-known, in fact, there’s a strain of mushroom named after him. There is, currently, no agreed upon theory for such a dramatic evolutionary development. Activists claim psilocybin mushrooms like these have medicinal uses for things depression, PTSD and other disorders. They depend less on how many people died, or took mushrooms for that matter. 27.2k. Stoned Ape Theory. I'm not really a proponent of this, but it's interesting and seems plausible. McKenna's theory was called the "Stoned Ape Hypothesis." But I think much of it betrays that many who criticized it never actually read it, or read it only superficially. https://www.wholecelium.com/articles/psychedelic-studies/stoned-ape-theory In his 2018 book "How to Change Your Mind," Michael Pollan called it "the epitome of all mycocentric speculation," stressing that its very premise is not susceptible to proof or disproof. Feelings of interconnectedness and empathy that shrooms encourage, would have strengthened community— which is one of the secrets to humanity’s success. Terence also argued that psilocybin would have increased visual acuity at low doses, increased sex drive and enhanced cooperation — all factors that could have proven adaptive to our ancestors. Joe Rogan and Michael Pollan on Terrence McKenna's Stoned Ape Theory. This does not mean that new foods would have altered the hominid genome, but rather that they would have affected the expression of genes that were already present, thus changing our ancestors physiologically, neurochemically and culturally.". As there is currently no concrete factual evidence for this idea, it remains a hypothesis. Thus, Terence presented an interpretation in which our ancestors would have followed herds of cows and other herbivores, depending on them for food and clothing, but also harvesting the psychedelic mushrooms that grew readily from their dung. "Psychedelic mushrooms appear advantageous for adaptation to new circumstances because they de-pattern the mind/brain, alter modes of perception and induce synaesthesia," Falk says. Paul Stamets' protocol draws some inspiration from this idea, as well as the more recent scientific discoveries mentioned above. Is Terence McKenna's stoned ape theory probable or even possible? Today we know more than we ever did about human evolution. The psychotropic tryptamines psilocybin and psilocin are responsible for the altered states of awareness that we refer to as the psychedelic experience. Once relegated to the depths of psychonaut Reddit forums, this theory has been spotlighted again due to its inclusion in a lecture by renowned mycologist Paul Stamets in 2017. It is here that we see an apparent leap in human cognitive ability. Specifically psilocybin, or magic mushrooms. "For the first time ever, these humans lived in worlds of their own creation, materially and symbolically," Falk says via email. And it's not hard to see why. Dennis is himself an ethnopharmacologist and research pharmacognosist, as well as founder of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy. Sure, it sounds a little whacked out on the surface, but given the historical prevalence and importance of psilocybin, or DMT-based concoctions like ayahuasca among ancient shamanic cultures, the Stoned Ape Theory doesn’t seem so easily dismissable. "And I am fond of saying that psychedelics are medicines for the soul, they can heal not only individuals, but society on a global scale if we can integrate and take to heart the lessons that they can teach us. Ultimately, the stoned ape theory suggests that access to psilocybin mushrooms was a critical evolutionary advantage that accelerated the evolution of the human brain. Terence McKenna first proposed psychedelic mushrooms as the trigger for our rapid cognitive evolution. "If psychedelics live up to their promise and are integrated into medicine and health care, it will revolutionize paradigms of healing," Dennis says. Close. Imagine the scenario: early human has descended from the trees. The stoned ape hypothesis is simply not the sort of hypothesis that can be taken up by a scientific study. Meanwhile, McKenna should remain lauded for recognising what science is only beginning to take seriously now— that psilocybin is a revolutionary tool for brain wellness. Posted by 4 years ago. I can tell you’re already intrigued— there are not many theories with a name as tantalising as ‘Stoned Ape’. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. (read more on the Legal page), for creative & spiritual enhancement ✨ or anti-depressant (says science), our services’ legality ⚖️ are guaranteed under, Canadian Companies Invest In Jamaican Shrooms. Among its most notable advocates is mycologist Paul Stamets, who along with Dennis, points to scientific advancements in fields such as epigenetic inheritance and neuroplasticity that may further explain the mechanisms involved in psychedelics-assisted cognitive advancement. By: Robert Lamb With more and more promising results from psychedelic studies, even if shrooms didn’t create human consciousness, in the near future they could play a big part in improving it. If you buy Terence McKenna’s Stoned Ape Theory, we are part of a giant evolutionary human casserole whose base is made of cream of mushroom soup. It is thought that between 2 million and 700,000 years ago Homo erectus brains doubled in size. The stoned ape hypothesis often referred to as ‘ stoned ape theory ‘ is a speculative claim made by the late Terence McKenna. I understand that as soon as you decide to discuss psychedelics, people tend to immediately dismiss you as crazy. Munching together, on the shrooms, they begin to feel the psychedelic effects. He came up ‘ Stoned Ape Theory ’, the idea that psychedelic mushrooms helped give humans consciousness. The Stoned Ape Theory. There's also some scientific evidence for permanent changes from hallucinogenics. It involves the emergence and nature of consciousness, as well as the true potential of psychedelic compounds — all subjects rife with their own mysteries. It involves the emergence and nature of consciousness, as well as the true potential of psychedelic compounds — all subjects rife with their own mysteries. HowStuffWorks may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Organization. Did psychedelics stimulate human consciousness? Broadcast your events with reliable, high-quality live streaming. brains proceeded to triple in size somewhere between 100,000 and 500,000 years ago. "For a while I had the idea to write a book that would have been called 'Hallucinogens and Evolution,' but never got around to it," Dennis says via email. These things try to compete with ‘conventional’ (vocab they share, in common) scientific knowledge and understanding, which they oppose. The key to this major distinction between homo sapiens sapiens and all other hominids appears to be language.". In essence, the hypothesis suggests we owe the emergence of language and self-reflection to ancient, sustained consumption of psilocybin mushrooms. First proposed by 20th century ethnobotanist Terence McKenna (1946-2000) in his 1992 book "Food … Psychedelic research has experienced a renaissance in recent years, but as we reconsider psilocybin's potential to treat addiction and psychiatric disturbance, where does that leave the stoned ape hypothesis? First proposed by 20th century ethnobotanist Terence McKenna (1946-2000) in his 1992 book "Food of the Gods," the basic concept is that the consumption of psychedelic fungi may have played a crucial role in the development of human mind and culture. McKenna proposed that these massive accelerations were due to an unexpected source—  magic mushrooms. The hypothesis suggests an alternate view on human evolution and the sudden growth of ape consciousness. Psilocybin can induce a brain state similar to synesthesia— where different senses, such as vision and sound, get paired together. I think it was a credible piece of scholarship. The very idea invites derision and ridicule, and there was plenty of that by reviewers and others. "This would likely have entailed major experimentation," Falk explains, "much of which would have been harmful, and some of which would have been mutagenic, leading to epigenetic changes. So now you have everything you need to know about ‘Stoned Ape Theory!’, our services’ legality ⚖️ are guaranteed under Dutch law, European law, & the United Nations‘ INCB international convention of 1971. Ancient Origins articles related to stoned ape theory in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and legends. The second Skeptoid episode that the Stoned Ape Theory recalls is the one about the conspiracy theory that a cabal of industrialists including William Randolph Hearst was responsible for the destruction of the US hemp industry, thus costing us a wonder product that is the best possible raw material for virtually any manufacturing need. The Stoned Ape hypothesis may now be lost to the annals of fringe science, but some remnant of its legacy remains. "Terence McKenna and mycologist Paul Stamets argue that these mushrooms may have allowed our ancestors to forge connections between sounds, symbols and meanings, which is the essence of 'the creative explosion': human language, symbol manipulation and communication.". So it's safe to say they don't think highly at all of the theory. Leaving the leafy canopy behind they begin, in groups, to track and domesticate herds of animals. "The stoned ape hypothesis offers a possible keystone that appears to fit together with much of the existing scientific evidence and theory," he says, though he stresses that this is only one possible answer. So! The changes would have put our ancestors on the move through new, challenging and bountiful environments. Their descendants, Homo sapiens (that’s us!) Now that scientists better understand the way psilocybin physically affects the brain, they can seriously investigate its potential to treat disorders like substance abuse, anxiety, and depression . McKenna’s Stoned Ape Theory is just one of many which attempt to explain it. Who was Terence McKenna? This process kicked into overdrive the ability to process information, imagine and think abstractly. Live Streaming. "Human intelligence/consciousness appears to have been an emergent phenomenon," Falk says. Nevertheless, the name has stuck. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Copyright © 2021 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company. A Crash Course on the Stoned Ape Theory. He had a hobby of fossil hunting in his youth, which helped him gain a scientific appreciation of nature. I asked an anthropologist buddy. The stoned ape hypothesis is simply not the sort of hypothesis that can be taken up by a scientific study. Terence McKenna’s Stoned Ape Theory is more plausible than it sounds — especially in context of the emergence of human mind and language development. Psychedelic research has experienced a renaissance in recent years, but as we reconsider psilocybin’s potential to treat addiction and psychiatric disturbance, where does that leave the stoned ape hypothesis? Hailed as a ‘modern classic on mind-altering drugs and hallucinogens’ (Washington Post) it contained the radical ‘Stoned Ape Theory’. In 1992 he published a book called ‘Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge— A Radical History of Plants, Drugs and Human Evolution’. The stoned ape hypothesis gained little traction in academic circles, but it became a staple of psychedelic culture. McKenna’s 1992 book, Food of the Gods, first proposed what’s referred to as “the stoned ape theory.” One of our early ancestors, Homo erectus, began eating Psilocybe cubensis — a … Create. One that has been recently revisited is Terence Mckenna’s ‘Stoned Ape Theory’. in the words of science writer John Horgan, Information about the device's operating system, Information about other identifiers assigned to the device, The IP address from which the device accesses a client's website or mobile application, Information about the user's activity on that device, including web pages and mobile apps visited or used, Information about the geographic location of the device when it accesses a website or mobile application. According to Dr. Thomas Falk, a professor of Philosophy and Education at the University of Dayton, the hypothesis also provides an explanation for the so-called "creative explosion" that occurred 40,000 years ago in homo sapiens, prior to their migration from Africa to Europe. Curious, relatively smart, lining up diverse guests for free form … That we are distantly related to fungi, that early mammals survived while the dinosaurs perished, and— thanks to Darwin, our monkey Uncles. While interesting, it does have several holes on several fronts. Falk, whose areas of study include phenomenology and anthropology, says that while we have no shortage of good evidence and theory regarding the course of human evolution, the leap to self-consciousness remains a mystery. The regular consumption of these mushrooms could have proven advantageous as humans spread out into new territory. Part of this lecture can be seen in the recent award winning film ‘Fantastic Fungi’ (check it out!). Terence McKenna advocated the exploration of altered states of mind via the ingestion of naturally occurring psychedelic substances; for example, and in particular, as facilitated by the ingestion of high doses of psychedelic mushrooms, ayahuasca, and DMT, which he believed was the apotheosisof the psychedelic experience.  |  Stamets, a vocal supporter of the theory, has also pointed out the leadership qualities that would have resulted from the mix of bravery and empathy brought on by these substances. Terence McKenna first proposed psychedelic mushrooms as the trigger for our rapid cognitive evolution. The ‘Stoned Ape Hypothesis’. We still have much to learn from these humble fungi, as science is confirming.". Written during what is sometimes described as the dark age of psychedelic research, "The Food of the Gods" argued that the criminalization of psychedelic substances and lack of research into their powers paradoxically cut human beings off from an important aspect of their ascendency. Did psychedelics stimulate human consciousness? Changes in environment forced societal changes to ensure survival, and these societal changes demanded upgrades in mental capacity. Terrence McKenna, author of the 1992 book "Food of the Gods," believed the term "stoned ape hypothesis" misrepresented his theory and dumbed down the whole idea, but the name nevertheless stuck. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. Ideas depend on concepts like the stoned ape. "While Terence's approach is different from what I would have written, there are complementarities. This could explain how humans were able to begin to create association with the things they saw and the noises that they made with their mouths— thus language was born. Neither Terence nor Dennis referred to this hypothesis by the name "stoned ape," which Dennis believes misrepresents the idea and dumbs down the concept. Make social videos in an instant: use custom templates to tell the right story for your business. Today, McKenna’s hypothesis has been widely debunked as being too simplistic an explanation for the mystery of human consciousness. Use of the Amanita Muscaria, also known as the Red Cup or Wild Fly Agaric, a toxic mushroom with poison and hallucinogenic properties, is deeply rooted in the shamanic traditions of the Northern Hemisphere. "We know the brain tripled in size about 2 million years ago, and probably the ecosystems which put hominids, cattle and mushrooms together were around that old," Dennis says, referring to the dung from which psilocybin mushrooms emerge. However, it's not the only possible explanation on the table. Are we all descended from a common female ancestor? According to the author's younger brother, Dennis McKenna, the idea emerged out of conversations between the two. "It's simplistic just to postulate that people ate mushrooms, so they were better equipped. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. "That is, there were many evolutionary factors, likely unrelated, that nevertheless entered into random combination and in so doing created a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts.". Additionally, early religious and ceremonial ritual may have been based upon the psychedelic experiences induced by the magic mushrooms. “Stoned apes” – bad news for it -- compares with “Scientific” Creationism (Intel Design and etc). The journey takes us back to the Pleistocene epoch, stretching between 2.6 million and 11,700 years ago, which saw major changes in climate. Although other homo species may have efficiently exploited nature, they remained its passive subjects. Psychedelic research has experienced a renaissance in recent years, but as we reconsider psilocybin's potential to treat addiction and psychiatric disturbance, where does that leave the stoned ape hypothesis? In my mind, the Stoned Ape Theory (iteration 2) is the exponential, not inherently evolutionary development of intellectual ideas. Around 200 species of Psilocybe mushrooms are found around the world and may be represented in the art of ancient humans. Firstly, for all you sticklers for accuracy, the ‘Stoned Ape Theory’ is not technically a theory. Terence McKenna was born on November 16, 1946, and died on April 3, 2000. However, it's not the only possible explanation on the table.