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Artwork for The Theory of Anything

The Theory of Anything

Bruce Nielson and Peter Johansen
David Deutsch
Critical Rationalism
Artificial General Intelligence
Karl Popper
Video Games
Constructor Theory Of Knowledge
Darwinian Evolution
Moral Progress
Deutsch's Theory Of Knowledge
Animal Memes
Astrology
Heat Death
Universal Explainers
Problem Of Open-Endedness
Theory Of Knowledge
Evolutionary Epistemology
Libertarianism
Popper's Paradox Of Tolerance
Popper's Ratchet
Scientific Method

A podcast that explores the unseen and surprising connections between nearly everything, with special emphasis on intelligence and the search for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) through the lens of Karl Popper's Theory of Knowledge. David Deutsch argued that Quantum Mechanics, Darwinian Evolution, Karl Popper's Theory of Knowledge, and Computational Theory (aka "The Four Strands") represent ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes131Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Theory of Anything

Latest Episodes

Bruce looks at what makes sense—and doesn’t—about popular theories on knowledge promoted by CritRats (critical rationalists on X). He looks at how much these theories align, and don’t align, with what David Deutsch has actually said about knowledge. more

A curious Twitter exchange with David Deutsch prompts Bruce to explore what Deutsch and other critical rationalists mean when they assert that randomness doesn’t truly exist.

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In this episode, Bruce explores his extended conversation with philosopher and inductivist Kieren, focusing on Kieren’s claim that Popper’s Critical Rationalism ultimately depends on induction.

Bruce then makes a striking counter-claim: that Kieren’... more

Here Bruce starts with Popper’s assertion that theories are 100x more valuable than concepts and compares it to Douglas Hofstadter’s ideas on creativity and consciousness. But if concepts matter so little, where do conjectures originate? Popper offer... more

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Recent Guests

Logan Chipkin
A writer and president of the Conjecture Institute
Conjecture Institute
Episode: Episode 119: New Right vs Libertarianism w/Logan Chipkin
Micah Redding
Host of the Christian Transhumanist podcast, a prominent figure in Christian Transhumanism
Episode: Episode 118: Christian Transhumanism (with Micah Redding)
Jonathan Rauch
Influential public intellectual and author, known for his works on free speech and democracy.
Episode: Episode 117: Jonathan Rauch
Sadia Naeem
Physicist with a PhD, interested in foundational issues in science
Independent researcher and physicist
Episode: Episode 109: Genes, Emergence, and Platonism (round table with Sadia and Ivan)
Michael Levin
Biologist known for his work on cell cognition
Episode: Episode 105: Michael Levin's Unseen World of Cell Cognition
Chris Johansen
Professional jazz musician based in New York City
Episode: Episode 97: Karl Popper On Conservatism in Music (w/Chris Johansen)
Kenneth Stanley
AI researcher and author of 'Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned, The Myth of the Objective'
Episode: Episode 96: Kenneth Stanley on the Pursuit of What’s Interesting
Stephen Hicks
Professor of Philosophy and author known for works defending liberalism and critiquing postmodernism
Rockford University
Episode: Episode 94: Stephen Hicks on Critical Rationalism vs Objectivism
Ivan Phillips
PhD in theoretical physics, involved in science and critical thinking outreach
Software Industry
Episode: Episode 90: Bayesianism for Critical Rationalists!?

Host

Bruce Nielsen
Host exploring philosophical themes and epistemological discussions, focusing on the intersections of intelligence and society through the lens of notable theories.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 84 ratings
  • Amazing series

    Very glad to have come across this series.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Di$-appointed user
    India2 months ago
  • Intense

    Really substantial stuff here. Cuz i am serious about popper and deutsch and this podcast is perfect for me.

    You guys def deserve more (positive) reviews! Where are the reviews?!! :)

    May 4, 2025

    Really enjoyed the episode. Just a quick thought on the point about Bayesian epistemology vs. Bayesian reasoning. The key difference, I think, is that Bayesian reasoning offers a useful *description* of how agents might update beliefs. That’s fine on its own. But Bayesian epistemology goes further—it ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wiggy woggy
    Canada9 months ago
  • Intense

    Really substantial stuff here. Cuz i am serious about popper and deutsch and this podcast is perfect for me.

    You guys def deserve more (positive) reviews! Where are the reviews?!! :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wiggy woggy
    Canadaa year ago
  • Intense

    Really substantial stuff here. Cuz i am serious about popper and deutsch and this podcast is perfect for me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wiggy woggy
    Canada2 years ago
  • Popper in-depth

    Gets into the weeds on Popper in a wonderful way. Highly recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Al Pittampalli
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The engaging format and in-depth analysis are frequently highlighted, marking it as a valuable resource for individuals seeking to understand intricate ideas deeply.
Listeners appreciate the podcast's rigorous intellectual discussions, particularly emphasizing the value of exploring complex topics in philosophy and science.
Feedback often mentions the host's effective communication of challenging concepts, making them accessible and interesting to a broader audience.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 128: Induction’s Immunizing Strategy
Q: Do you believe you can justify or provide a degree of support for our universal claims about the world?
Kieren argues that we can provide some rational justification for our general claims through particular observations, while Bruce counters that Popper allows for falsification but denies rational justification of a theory as true.
Episode 124: Popper's Evolutionary Theory of Knowledge
Q: So it seems like both Popper and the Popper Campbell view and Deutsch's two sources view would fundamentally agree that conjecture and refutation can be thought of as a meta-theory of knowledge?
Both Campbell and Popper agree with this assertion, while the validity of Deutsch's perspective may depend on interpretation.
Episode 125: Our Lovecraftian Universe?
Q: Do you and or Bruce see a difference between a more naturalistic, meaning neutral universe and a actively malevolent Lovecraftian universe?
Lovecraft saw a meaningless universe, but there's kind of this idea within Lovecraft that the universe just did not care.
Episode 108: AI and Obedience (with Dan Gish)
Q: How close are we to developing AGI?
The consensus is that while significant progress has been made, true AGI is still a distant goal that requires further research and understanding.
Episode 108: AI and Obedience (with Dan Gish)
Q: What do you think about the crit-rats having a negative view of AI?
Dan believes this negativity stems from the misunderstanding of AGI and its relation to today's AI technologies.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Theory of Anything

What is The Theory of Anything about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content is characterized by its deep philosophical engagement with the nature of knowledge, belief, and the intersections of reason and evidence in various domains, particularly through the lenses of notable figures like Karl Popper and David Deutsch. Episodes typically focus on complex topics such as epistemology, political ideologies, and scientific critiques, with discussions that challenge conventional narratives by bringing in interdisciplinary perspectives related to evolution, artificial intelligence, and critical rationalism. A distinguishing feature is its commitment to exploring nuanced debates around belief systems, rational discourse, and the implications of scientific understanding in contemporary society, appealing to list... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Theory of Anything?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Theory of Anything:

1. Conjecture Institute
2. Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal
3. Dwarkesh Podcast
4. Into the Impossible With Brian Keating
5. Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST)

How many episodes of The Theory of Anything are there?

The Theory of Anything launched 6 years ago and published 131 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 The Theory of Anything?

Recent guests on The Theory of Anything include:

1. Logan Chipkin
2. Micah Redding
3. Jonathan Rauch
4. Sadia Naeem
5. Michael Levin
6. Chris Johansen
7. Kenneth Stanley
8. Stephen Hicks

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