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Artwork for The Theory of Anything

The Theory of Anything

Bruce Nielson and Peter Johansen
David Deutsch
Critical Rationalism
Karl Popper
Artificial General Intelligence
Induction
Machine Learning
Philosophy
Epistemology
Creativity
Evolutionary Epistemology
Quantum Mechanics
Scientific Method
Beauty
Probability Theory
Neo-Darwinism
Bayesianism
Douglas Hofstadter
Evolution
Popper's Epistemology
Evolutionary Theory

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes139Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Theory of Anything

Latest Episodes

Bruce has made a controversial claim on this show: today's "CritRats" (Critical Rationalists on X) have drifted from what Popper intended. And surprisingly, some of the drift traces back to David Deutsch's reinterpretation of Popper in an attempt to ... more

This week we were honored to interview Ray Scott Percival, a significant but also woefully under-appreciated figure in critical rationalism. Percival has been active in critical rationalist forums, conferences, and academic journals since the 90s and... more

This week we had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Golding, M.D, who is a psychiatric physician. He is also heavily influenced by the philosophical ideas of David Deutsch and Karl Popper. At one point he calls himself a proponent of homeschooling ... more

Bruce examines how effectively critical rationalism can ground the non-aggression principle (NAP)—the libertarian idea that, in some formulation, it is morally wrong to initiate violence.

But does it really make sense to interpret all areas of law t... more

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Recent Guests

Ray Scott Percival
Renowned intellectual in critical rationalism, author of Myth of the Closed Mind
Episode: Episode 137: Ray Scott Percival on Incurable Mind Viruses
Michael Golding
Psychiatric physician
Episode: Episode 136: Michael Golding on Mental Illness and Universal Explainers
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

Host

Bruce Nielsen
Co-host of the show; longstanding host with deep focus on epistemology and knowledge creation.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 88 ratings
  • Amazing series

    Very glad to have come across this series.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Di$-appointed user
    India5 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
    Canadaa year 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
    Canada2 years 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 States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging explorations of Popper, Deutsch, and AGI concepts.
High-quality conversations with crisp critiques and clear ideas.
Thoughtful, rigorous epistemology discussions that reward close listening.
Nerdy yet surprisingly accessible; great for deep thinkers.

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 137: Ray Scott Percival on Incurable Mind Viruses
Q: Do we live on Bertrand Russell Island, where ideas can be tested without real-world constraints?
Percival explains that Russell Island is a useful thought experiment to show that even very rational minds can harbor irrational beliefs under certain dynamics, but it does not exist in the real world, so we must study real social and memetic processes to understand how ideas spread and are challenged.
Episode 134: The Deutsch Slot Machine
Q: How do probabilities play into Deutsch's theory?
Probabilities are viewed as a useful approximation rather than a fundamental truth, as Deutsch argues that randomness does not exist in nature, which raises concerns about how decisions are explained without appealing to probabilities.
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.

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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 show centers on deep, often dense discussions about epistemology, knowledge creation, and the nature of science, with heavy emphasis on Popper's ideas, David Deutsch's theories, and the implications for artificial general intelligence. Episodes frequently probe how concepts, theories, and reasoning interact, challenging common assumptions about probability, induction, and knowledge growth, while weaving in thought experiments from quantum mechanics, computation, and evolution. Viewers are likely drawn to rigorous, philosophy-forward conversations that connect science, logic, and technology, and the format often features probing critiques and thoughtful counterarguments that reward careful listening. A notable strength is the ability to ... 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. Increments
2. Conjecture Institute
3. Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal
4. ToKCast
5. Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg

How many episodes of The Theory of Anything are there?

The Theory of Anything launched 6 years ago and published 139 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. Ray Scott Percival
2. Michael Golding
3. Logan Chipkin
4. Micah Redding
5. Jonathan Rauch
6. Sadia Naeem
7. Michael Levin
8. Chris Johansen

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