The Stoned Ape Theory by Terence Mckenna

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[codydawson91]

@STorpedo i personally find stoned ape theory fascinating when applied to specific aspects of human development. such as increased visual acuity. this comes not during the trip but rather is a lastign effect from the come down to as much as days after use. in this sense, a small trip could have days worth of benefits. in this sense it could have been useful. honestly i think it will have a bigger role in moving society along presently.

[codydawson91]

@STorpedo Ya know, even if it didn't make a difference to surviving their environment, habitual use of mushrooms would totally fry your brain. things like psychedelic drugs should only be done every now and again, like twice a year. you lose appreciation for the effects when u abuse their use. so ya i see your problems with stoned ape theory.

[STorpedo]

@codydawson91 I just thought that the notion of habitually mushroom-ingesting ape species conflicts with its ability to survive, given the dangerous eco-systems of the past.

[STorpedo]

@codydawson91 Human evolution also has no backing evidence. The sort of proof I am looking for isn't factual, it's conceptual or logical, that builds upon relevant established facts. Anyways, yes, I agree with, and I don't think I was ever arguing against, the point that mushrooms (et al) have had a profound effect on certain human individuals.

[STorpedo]

@codydawson91 All I've done initially was to criticize the postulation; the vehemence is unintentional, and was acquired by osmosis from the previous discussants. And I do not object to occasional use of hallucinogenic drugs, but I do not see a good reason for their consistent use, nor the use with any frequency for any other type of drug.

[codydawson91]

@STorpedo but really, why argue against it so vehemently. Is the troll gene strong in this one, or do you actually think the outcome will make a difference. I only got involved cuz you seemed to smash drug use all together, but I could see how it could aid early humans in minor ways. of course what McKenna suggests is a bit too far for evidence to corroborate, but thats ok. if we go off what evidence we have, we know very little. but when we postulate, thats when fun begins.

[codydawson91]

@STorpedo of course, none of this was to effect our evolution into homo sapiens. the use merely aided in the aspects of humanity that don't make much sense biologically. Like art or music. and beyond that argument, doing drugs in the first place is novel behavior in a population, allowing for the discover of helpful plants and such.

[codydawson91]

@STorpedo well you do realize you are arguing against a proposed theory that has no backing evidence. You are saying what any anthropologist would say on the matter. And while I agree whole heartedly that theres no way a species of non-homo sapien's developement was directly aided by mushrooms. however, I could see certain events in human history being effected by contact with mushrooms. also, accidental ingestion could have aided in awareness and connection with the world.

[STorpedo]

@codydawson91 An umbrella term that is very precisely defined nevertheless (you initial criticism was that it was 'loose at *best*', if you recall). I have looked up the term before making my statement, btw; your command fell on deaf ears, I'm afraid. Now, a hallucinogen's primary effect is to change thought and mood; please do explain to me how the ingestion of such drugs aids an ape in terms of developing a neocortex? An ape's primary function is to survive and get mates;

[STorpedo]

@codydawson91 he needs to be strong, sexually active, and non-deliberative (i.e. quick). All of these things are already present within the ape's consciousness; any qualitative change from that will detract from his ability to stay competitive. So, the only possible explanation for a species of a mushroom-ingesting ape is that a species of ape was isolated for thousands of years from other predators that were equal to, or better than it in their ability to