Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are the Plausible Mechanism of Psychedelic Moral Enhancement Rather than a Risk. Comment on Tang, B.L. Psychedelics for Moral Bioenhancement in Healthy Individuals—A Violation of the Non-Maleficence Principle? Psychoactives 2025, 4, 5

Classic psychedelics like psilocybin are unlikely to reliably foster moral growth in healthy individuals, according to a critical analysis. The argument challenges the idea of psychedelic moral bioenhancement (PMBE), contending that the subjective, context-dependent nature of psychedelic experiences makes them unsuitable as a dependable tool for moral enhancement. The author suggests that moral development requires sustained cognitive and social engagement rather than transient pharmacological effects. The analysis draws on existing evidence about psychedelics' mechanisms and effects to question the feasibility and ethical basis of using them for moral improvement in non-clinical populations.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In a recent Psychoactives article, Bor Luen Tang argues against psychedelic moral bioenhancement (PMBE)—the use of classic psychedelics such as psilocybin to foster moral growth in healthy individuals [...]