American writer and psychologist Leary Timothy: biography

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Nineteen years ago, the scientist, psychologist, progressive public figure and writer Timothy Leary died. The activity of a man who personified his time with his works and ideas gradually died out about half a century ago. We know him as one of the most influential personalities of the last century. The biography of Timothy Leary is inspiring and shocking. He won the honor of the public with drug experiments, battles with the narrow-mindedness of the layman. Leary Timothy knew exactly what his mission was and carried it out with confidence.

Early childhood and family

Such an outstanding personality was born in the small town of Springfield, Massachusetts on October 22, 1920. An inspirational example for him was his grandfather - a we althy Catholic, who inspires little Tim with reverence and love for art. Timothy's father worked as a dentist in the army and drank heavily. Domestic violence was unbearable. When Timothy was twelve years old, his father gave him a hundred dollars and left home to seek a better life in solitude. Leary was raised by his aunt, who was pious to the core. In contrast to the upbringing received, the boy grew up as a rebel with a subtle spiritualperception of the world. Having set against himself mentors at school, Timothy did not receive the necessary recommendation for college. Instead, he went to a Jesuit school near Worcester. Despite strict discipline, the guy excelled in his studies and stayed there for almost a year.

Military Academy and the first steps in the study of psychology

Discovering his passion for martial arts, Leary Timothy successfully passed his exams at West Point, a military academy. At that time he was twenty years old. After holding out for three months in conditions of the strictest discipline, the guy began to drink alcohol and solder his peers. He was punished: for a whole year he could not communicate with classmates.

In the summer of 1941, Leary leaves the army and enters the University of Alabama in the psychology department. He does not stay there either - he is expelled in the fall of 1942 for dissolute behavior. Leary is drafted into the army in 1943. At the courses where officers were trained, Timothy meets a girl, Marianne, who later becomes his first wife.

The future scientist still gravitates towards psychology, therefore, despite the received rank of corporal, he returns to science. Timothy received his degree from the University of Washington by studying statistical analysis of intellectual indicators. He is defending his doctoral dissertation at the University of California. Success and recognition come to Leary. He embarks on a multidisciplinary work (simultaneously researches interpersonal diagnostics and group therapy), works at Berkeley and helps to select candidates for the priesthood. His research has beenpopularity, and the first book, Interpersonal Diagnosis of Personality, was honored as the American Psychological Association's Book of the Year in 1959.

Wife and children

Timothy Leary's personal life was full of tragedy. With his wife Marianne, they raised two children. Leary Timothy was not distinguished by parental talent: together with his wife, they often got drunk. Marianne committed suicide the day after Timothy's 35th birthday. The following year, Leary takes the children and leaves for Europe. He is worried about the future - it seems bleak and unpromising.

Introduction to psilobicine and first experiences

At this very moment, Leary learns about the miraculous properties of the sacred Mexican mushrooms. At first, Leary is intimidated by their properties and tries to dissuade his friends from using them. While in Florence, Timothy meets McClelland, who promises him a successful future in psychology and a job at Harvard for three years.

In the summer of 1960, at the age of forty, Dr. Leary visits Mexico and gains experience eating mushrooms. Leary's experiment is described in his work Religious Experience: Its Realization and Interpretation. Back at Harvard, the scientist founds a project to study psilocycin. Its purpose was to study the hidden possibilities of the human nervous system. The project was a success: hundreds of people became interested and joined it. The press actively covered their discoveries, demonstrating the potential of psychedelic drugs.

Good Friday

Leading artists, intellectuals and scientists oftime participated in the development of Leary. Timothy Leary's technique was that the participants in the experiment took psilocycin, and then shared their experiences. The so-called "Good Friday", an experiment with a religious beginning, was carried out by W alter Pahnke. Theology students took psilocycin and had religious visions comparable to those of famous saints and mystics.

Expansion and conclusion

To broaden the scope and popularize Leary's research, Timothy and his brethren found the International Federation of Inner Freedom. All experiments and studies of the psychedelic experience are made public. Leary believes that his own developments are more important than a position at Harvard, so management fires Timothy and his assistant. Leary believed that education anesthetizes the mind, lulls it and prevents one from thinking independently. In his opinion, education is designed to completely control the mind of the student.

Leary expands the scope of his propaganda. He is interested in environmental, right-wing and anti-war movements, in which he immediately occupies important positions. Timothy and staff declare their headquarters in a New York estate, where they continue their activities with the famous motto "Turn on, tune in, lay back", for which Leary will lose his membership in the scientific community.

Three years later, Leary was arrested for marijuana. Not only did he win the trial, his case subsequently made marijuana tax laws unconstitutional. Leary decided to run for officeGovernor of California, which caused a flurry of negative reactions from the prosecutor's office, and the case was reopened. Everything was set up so that Leary could not get out of the water dry. The largest bail in the history of an American court (five million dollars), a few crumbs of marijuana as evidence, a denial of an appeal, and ten years in prison were the result. Timothy escaped after nine months.

Escape and second imprisonment

Leary and his second wife Rosemary went to Europe, to Algeria, and a year later they fled to Switzerland. He sought political protection in different countries, and in the meantime the entire intellectual elite raised uprisings in his defense. Switzerland agreed to take Leary in, but later extradited him anyway. Even Rosemary left her husband, she will spend the next quarter of a century underground.

Leary has been back in prison since 1973. Now he was waiting for a period of 75 years. Leary testified against his friends, which he tried to deny after being released a year later.

Last years of life and death

The last twenty years of the idol's life were spent in glory. He continued to personify the psychedelic movement, although he did not promote them as zealously.

Even his death was a spectacular event. He was diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer. On May 31, 1996, the psychologist died, his death was captured on video. The cremated remains of Leary were distributed to friends and family, some of them were burned in the atmosphere.

The great scientist and psychologist Timothy Leary was happy with his life andthought he had done everything he wanted to. Leary personifies the entire stunning and rebellious twentieth century. His life is perfectly described by his last words: “Why not?”.