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Closer To Truth

Closer To Truth
Consciousness
Artificial Intelligence
Philosophy
Cosmology
Quantum Mechanics
Mathematics
Neuroscience
Evolution
Physics
Buddhism
Biology
God
Hinduism
Natural Selection
Philosophy Of Religion
Philosophy Of Biology
Islam
Panpsychism
Christianity
Theology

Closer To Truth presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions in Cosmos, Life, Consciousness, and Meaning. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Seek your own answers.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationPhilosophySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Closer To Truth

Latest Episodes

What does evolution imply about human nature and human value?

In this conversation, Michael Ruse explores the philosophy of biology, the mechanistic view of life, human exceptionalism, and the relationship between evolution and meaning. Discussing t... more

How did the universe begin—and what determines the laws of physics we observe?

In this conversation, Thomas Hertog discusses On the Origin of Time: Stephen Hawking’s Final Theory, presenting a new approach to cosmology developed through years of col... more

Can virtual worlds be genuinely real?

In this conversation, David Chalmers explores the philosophical implications of virtual reality, simulation theory, and digital existence. Discussing themes from his book Reality+, Chalmers examines whether we c... more

In this conversation, Anil Seth discusses a new scientific approach to consciousness — moving beyond the traditional “hard problem” toward explaining the actual properties of conscious experience. Robert Lawrence Kuhn and Seth explore phenomenology, ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Anil Seth
Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience
University of Sussex
Episode: Anil Seth on a New Science of Consciousness
John Dupré
Philosopher of biology, proponent of pluralistic metaphysics of science
University of Exeter
Episode: Why Philosophy of Evolutionary Biology?
Dennis Noble
Systems biologist, critic of the modern synthesis
University of Chichester
Episode: Why Philosophy of Evolutionary Biology?
Michael Ruse
Philosopher of biology, historian of science
University of Guelph (context)
Episode: Why Philosophy of Evolutionary Biology?
Yan Wong
Co-author mentioned in discussion
Co-author with Kuhn
Episode: Why Philosophy of Evolutionary Biology?
Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
Philosopher and novelist
Author and Professor of Philosophy
Episode: Rebecca Newberger Goldstein on The Mattering Instinct
Freeman Dyson
Physicist, philosopher, and visionary
Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton
Episode: What Is The Far Future Of Intelligence
Lawrence Krauss
Professor of Physics and Director of the Origins Initiative
Arizona State University
Episode: What Is The Far Future Of Intelligence
Robin Collins
Christian philosopher trained in physics
Biola University (as per discussion)
Episode: What Is The Far Future Of Intelligence

Host

Robert Lawrence Kuhn
Host of Closer To Truth

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 646 ratings
  • Amazing

    I love this podcast so much and am always looking forward to new episodes - really interesting, insightful thoughtful and intelligent conversations. Find myself wishing episodes lasted 5 hours!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    emineeeeeeeeeeeee
    United Statesa year ago
  • Nothing gets Closer to this Podcast

    Thank you Robert for giving yourself completely to your quest and sharing the process with all of us seekers of the truth. Your program is not only inspirational but a source of knowledge, smarts and great people. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MainiDell
    Argentinaa year ago
  • Strange

    Why doesn’t Philip Goff just say he’s going to church & blindly believing because he wants to feel the sense of belonging? All these words he saying, when it just comes down to this. Kind of like the Mormon sheep. The cultural aspect of Mormonism is extremely strong.

    And then the womens story of justifying the afterlife for a pelican. Try justifying a severely disabled child who has to go through this life suffering and then just HOPING for some grand saving. Rubbish. Why’d god make the child li... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Flameonyou
    United Statesa year ago
  • Ads are ruining me

    This is my absolute fav philosophy podcast but please the pod beam ads have got to go. Maybe an option to pay for ad free?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    nrslv
    Australiaa year ago
  • Great podcast

    Not sure how I found this show, very highly insightful and thought provoking. Asks questions and makes the listener think about subjects such as science, philosophy and our place in the universe. I mainly listen to physics podcasts, but study philosophy and psychology as well.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Groucho the man
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many appreciate the respectful, well-structured debates and high-quality questioning.
Audience value the depth and breadth of topics across science, philosophy, and spirituality.
Listeners praise the show's rigorous, open-minded dialogue and thoughtful guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#215
United Kingdom/Education
Apple Podcasts
#165
Netherlands/Education
Apple Podcasts
#172
Denmark/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

David Chalmers on Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy
Q: Give me that argument quickly regarding the simulation argument and the idea that simulations might vastly outnumber non-simulated worlds.
The argument posits that if intelligent civilizations tend to create many simulations, the number of simulated beings vastly outnumbers non-simulated beings, making it statistically likely we are in a simulation; further, issues like SIM blockers and the potential for universal destruction could influence the viability of simulations, but the probabilistic tilt remains strong.
David Chalmers on Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy
Q: So walk me through that process, how you found your own theory based on simulation hypothesis, and then use that to explore these other areas.
Chalmers explains starting from the simulation hypothesis as a background to examine knowledge, reality, and value; he argues that virtual worlds can be real in their own right and that the architecture of Reality+ ties together epistemology and ontology with discussions of mind, value, and legitimacy of virtual experiences.
Michael James on What the World Is According to Sri Ramana
Q: What would you say is Sri Ramana's most counter-intuitive teaching?
Ramana's teachings are counter-intuitive because they force us to question not just our beliefs but our very experience, especially the idea that the self is something other than the ego or the body.
Roman Yampolskiy on How Dangerous Is Artificial Intelligence
Q: What practical steps do you recommend now to reduce risk?
Do not build general super intelligences; instead, focus on narrow, domain-specific systems with clearer boundaries; implement governance and incentive alignment to deter dangerous deployments, and avoid open-sourcing models or providing unrestricted access that could enable misuse.
Roman Yampolskiy on How Dangerous Is Artificial Intelligence
Q: What would critics say, and how would you rebut their main point against you?
Critics argue that concerns are overstated and that safety can be engineered; I would rebut by pointing to the inherent unpredictability of large neural networks, the accelerating race among labs, and historical evidence that we often fail to implement robust containment, making pessimistic projections prudent.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Closer To Truth

What is Closer To Truth about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Thoughtful conversations span science, philosophy, and spirituality, with frequent dives into evolution, consciousness, the nature of reality, and life's big questions. Across episodes, discussions challenge conventional narratives—from the modern synthesis to ideas about mind, matter, and meaning—featuring leading thinkers who push for pluralist, interdisciplinary viewpoints. Noteworthy are multi-guest dialogues that braid rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling, along with explorations of how science, religion, and philosophy intersect to shape our understanding of existence and the future of intelligence and cosmology. The format often centers on probing questions, clear host guidance, and a willingness to entertain provocative po... more

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How many episodes of Closer To Truth are there?

Closer To Truth launched 16 years ago and published 300 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Closer To Truth?

Recent guests on Closer To Truth include:

1. Anil Seth
2. John Dupré
3. Dennis Noble
4. Michael Ruse
5. Yan Wong
6. Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
7. Freeman Dyson
8. Lawrence Krauss

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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