Therapeutic potential and ethical challenges for artificially induced Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs)

Seminar paper from the year 2025 in the subject Philosophy - Practical (Ethics, Aesthetics, Culture, Nature, Right, ...), Uppsala University (Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences), course: Neuroethics, language: English, abstract: In recent years, neurotechnological development has opened up new understandings of the human mind and the possibility of manipulating human consciousness, including the induction of out-of-body experiences (OBEs). These altered states of consciousness are characterized by a sensation of detachment from one’s physical body and the perception of seeing one own body from an external point of view. This phenomenon has been documented by various studies and reported to be experienced through deep meditation, in near-death experiences, neurological disorders, and can also occur spontaneously in healthy individuals during sleep. OBEs can also be artificially triggered by stimulation of certain brain areas or through hypnosis. In this context, the findings of various studies are interesting, which suggest that OBEs seem to have a profound positive influence on the individual's subsequent life. In the following I will examine the ethical dimentions and suggest some potential guidelines according to the question: Should neurotechnological interventions be used to induce OBEs for therapeutic purposes, considering the ethical implications for personal identity and the potential need for ethical limitations?