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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
Douglas Hofstadter
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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes136Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Theory of Anything

Latest Episodes

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

In this video podcast, Bruce makes his boldest statement yet about probability. He dives into David Deutsch’s lecture “Physics Without Probability”—as well as our Episode 100 interview with Deutsch—to unpack the core argument.

Bruce carefully works ... more

This week Bruce takes a deep dive into the epistemological ideas in Jonathan Rauch’s book The Constitution of Knowledge. Rauch is a fan of Karl Popper and a former guest on this show. He makes the case that the creation of objective knowledge relies ... more

This week, Bruce looks at how much critical rationalists do—and do not—subject their proposed best theories to critical testing. Bruce wrestles with how we apply the tools of critical rationalism—fallibilism, argument/debate, the demarcation criteria... 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
Ivan Phillips
Philosopher and Author, specializing in evolutionary biology
Author of 'Textbook Rationality' and 'Counterargument from Design'
Episode: Episode 109: Genes, Emergence, and Platonism (round table with Sadia and Ivan)
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)
Dan Gish
Software engineer with an interest in critical rationalism and AGI
Episode: Episode 108: AI and Obedience (with Dan Gish)
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
    India4 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 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.
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.

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 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. ToKCast
4. Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal
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 136 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. Ivan Phillips
5. Sadia Naeem
6. Dan Gish
7. Michael Levin
8. Chris Johansen

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