Cognitive liberty is the freedom to be the absolute sovereign of one’s own consciousness. It is an extension of the concept of freedom of thought. Freedom as concept may refer to: Freedom (philosophy) Freedom (political) Freedom (as a proper noun) may refer to: Freedom Magazine, a Scientology publication Freedom newspaper, a British anarchist newspaper Space Station Freedom, the name of a NASA project which later became the International Space Station Freedom Yachts, a company based... Consciousness is a quality of the mind generally regarded to comprise qualities such as subjectivity, self-awareness, sentience, sapience, and the ability to perceive the relationship between oneself and ones environment. ... Freedom of thought (also called freedom of conscience) is the freedom of an individual to hold a viewpoint, or thought, regardless of anyone elses view. ...

An individual who lives with cognitive liberty is free to alter the state of their consciousness using any method they choose, including but not limited to meditation, yoga, psychotropic drugs, fasting, prayer, etc. Such an individual would also never be forced to change their consciousness against their will. So, for example, a child who is forced to consume Ritalin as a prerequisite for attending public school, does not enjoy cognitive liberty, nor does an individual who is forced to take anti-psychotics in order to be fit to stand trial, nor an individual who faces criminal charges and punishment for changing the state of their consciousness by consuming a mind-altering drug. Methylphenidate (C14H19NO2), or MPH, is an amphetamine-like prescription stimulant commonly used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adults. ...

Timothy Leary has summarized this concept by postulating two new commandments: Timothy Francis Leary, Ph. ...

• Thou shalt not change the consciousness of thy fellow man against their will, and
• Thou shalt not prevent thy fellow man from changing their own consciousness if that person chooses to do so. ^{[citation needed]}

The primary United States organizations which adhere to this philosophy are the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a major national non-profit organization based in New York City that defends individual rights in the United States through litigation. ... The Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics is an non-profit organization that encourages and protects freedom of thought. ...

External links

• ACLU website
• CCLE website
• Cognitive Liberty Airwaves, radio series produced by Amanda Postula (co-host and engineer: Bill Huston), fall 2004 - spring 2005 on WHRW-FM, Binghamton NY; discussion of legal, medical, and religious issues around psychedelic drugs.