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The three-way relationship among mind, art, and transcendence is shown to be specific and uniquely valuable; for example, how the mind appreciates art and what art does...

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Mario Gollwitzer, Marlene Altenmüller

Topic Series

5:54

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Can understanding how the mind appreciates art give insight into how the mind works? What is it about art that it can reveal the process of creativity and imagination and the...

video

Marlene Altenmüller, Mario Gollwitzer

Topic Series

7:32

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What’s the relationship between art and morality, if any? Can art impact morality, and if so, is art morally neutral in that art may be a force for either positive morality...

video

Mario Gollwitzer, Marlene Altenmüller

Topic Series

6:48

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Can art impact our personal sense of self? Can listening to music you love or engaging with a favorite painting, change your perception of your own inner self? In reverse,...

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Marlene Altenmüller, Mario Gollwitzer

Topic Series

5:32

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Many belief systems, religions in particular, use art for promoting their messages and furthering their missions. What makes art so effective in building and solidifying...

video

Mario Gollwitzer, Marlene Altenmüller

Topic Series

7:18

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Understanding the nature of aesthetics—the philosophical study of beauty and taste—requires careful experimentation and innovative ways to reveal essence and tease out...

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Marlene Altenmüller, Mario Gollwitzer

Topic Series

14:53

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CTT CHATS

New Closer To Truth Chat

Dr. Aomawa Shields discusses her new book, Life On Other Planets: A Memoir of Finding My Place in the Universe.

Recent News

Perspective

Letter From London: Thoughts from CTT on Location

Host Robert Lawrence Kuhn reflects on an enlightening experience in London while on location.

Perspective

Contemplating “Oppenheimer”

Robert Lawrence Kuhn reflects on the life and legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Announcement

Closer To Truth Partners with IAI Live for Virtual Debate

Get 50% off tickets to IAI LIVE's virtual debate on July 3 with code CLOSERJULY50.

Book Excerpt

Neil Theise: Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being

The following is an excerpt from the book Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being by Neil Theise.

Book Excerpt

Nicholas Humphrey: Sentience: The Invention of Consciousness

The following is an excerpt from the book Sentience: The Invention of Consciousness by Nicholas Humphrey.

Announcement

Manil Suri Shortlisted for PEN Science Writing Award

Manil Suri's book, The Big Bang of Numbers, shortlisted for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award.

Curated Playlists

Cover image for The Philosophy of the Barbie Universe

The new Barbie movie explores the difficulties and terrors of being human, parallel universes, and questions of life after death. Here, we examine the same big questions of...

playlist

The Philosophy of the Barbie Universe

Curated

9 videos

1:14:52

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Cover image for Contemplating Oppenheimer

In anticipation of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer movie premiere, Closer To Truth has curated this video playlist featuring discussions related to the life and work of...

playlist

Contemplating Oppenheimer

Curated

9 videos

1:34:09

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Cover image for Best of Cosmology

Explore our vast universe: its size, scope, beginning, expansion, ending. How did it all happen? How does it all work? Where is it all going? We target the mysteries.

playlist

Best of Cosmology

Curated

10 videos

4:27:45

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Cover image for Asking Ultimate Questions

Push boundaries. Discern the deep essence of existence. Search the foundations of reality. Imagine all that may exist in physical realms beyond current understanding. Seek to...

playlist

Asking Ultimate Questions

Topic Series

12 videos

1:29:44

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Cover image for Exploring Human Nature: Free Will, Personal Identity, Life after Death

What are the fundamental dispositions and traits of all humans? What sets us apart from animals? Do we really have free will or is it all an illusion? What happens when we...

playlist

Exploring Human Nature: Free Will, Personal Identity, Life after Death

Curated

13 videos

5:54:03

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Cover image for Secrets of Brain and Mind

Everything we know comes from the brain. Are brains our window to reality, showing us what truly exists? How can we know? Can consciousness derive from something beyond the...

playlist

Secrets of Brain and Mind

Curated

13 videos

5:48:02

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Cover image for Universe: Beginning, Vast Size, End

Did the universe have a beginning? What was it like? Will our universe end? How? How big is the cosmos? Does it go on forever, and what would that mean? How many universes...

playlist

Universe: Beginning, Vast Size, End

Curated

5:48:03

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Cover image for Ultimate Questions of Existence

What is real? What is nothing? Why is there “something” rather than “nothing”? Does the nonphysical world exist? These are the ultimate questions of reality, the...

playlist

Ultimate Questions of Existence

Curated

12 videos

5:21:15

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Cover image for The Mystery of Consciousness

How can we understand consciousness? Is our consciousness an illusion? Can it be measured scientifically or tied to the brain? Why is consciousness so difficult to explain?

playlist

The Mystery of Consciousness

Curated

13 videos

5:48:03

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Cover image for Featured Videos from IAI.tv

Our partners at The Institute of Art and Ideas (IAI) aim to rescue philosophy from technical debates about the meaning of words and return it to big ideas and putting them at...

playlist

Featured Videos from IAI.tv

Curated

6 videos

4:04:51

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Cover image for Philosophical Questions I

Explore philosophical questions that address fundamental issues and beliefs including the meaning of truth; the philosophy of science, cosmology, and biology; metaphysics...

playlist

Philosophical Questions I

Curated

5:48:17

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Cover image for Philosophical Questions II

Explore more philosophical questions that seek insights into the fundamental features of existence including the limits of science, the existence of God, discerning the deep...

playlist

Philosophical Questions II

Curated

13 videos

5:48:10

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What are you interested in?

Cosmos

Questions like:
Why is there something rather than nothing? What exists? How vast is the cosmos? Are there multiple universes (multiverse)?

Consciousness

Questions like:
What is consciousness? Can brain explain mind? What are persons? Do persons have souls? Life after death? What is free will?

Meaning

Questions like:
What is God? Does God exist? Does God make sense? Is God a person? What are God’s traits? Alternative concepts of God?

2 of 2

Which formats do you prefer?

Episodes

Complete Closer To Truth TV episodes as broadcast on PBS stations nationwide in the U.S.

Topic Series

Intimate discussions with leading scientists, philosophers, and creative thinkers on hundreds of topics related to cosmos, consciousness, and meaning.

Curated Playlists

Collections of the best videos selected by the Closer To Truth team.

CTT Chats

Informal, free-flowing conversations with leading scientists, philosophers, and creative thinkers.

Seasons

All seasons of the acclaimed television series.

Cover image for Season 21

Science explores how the world works. Breakthroughs drive science, challenging conventional wisdom, changing ways of thinking. What are Breakthroughs in science?

playlist

Season 21

Season

4:54:37

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Cover image for Season 20

Art Seeking Understanding: Art delights us, but how and why? Explore art and cognitive science, philosophy, history, theology, and more.

playlist

Season 20

Season

10 videos

4:27:50

Watch

Cover image for Season 19

Philosophical inquiries including the anthropic principle; fine-tuning in physics and cosmology; and atonement, salvation, and incarnation.

playlist

Season 19

Season

13 videos

5:48:24

Watch

Cover image for Season 18

Are there multiple universes? What is extended mind? What causes consciousness? Challenges of analytic theology? If God, what’s evolution?

playlist

Season 18

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 17

How did the universe begin? What exists? What are the risks of scientific knowledge? Can metaphysics discern God, and what or who is God?

playlist

Season 17

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 16

Cosmos: Doomsday argument? Philosophy & science? Consciousness: Brain alone? Brains go bad? Language? Meaning: How miracles? God fallacies?

playlist

Season 16

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 15

Cosmos: Reason? Implications? Consciousness: ESP mean? ESP work? Dualism? Ultimate reality? Meaning: Speculating about God? God intervenes?

playlist

Season 15

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 14

Cosmos: Information? Truth? Multiverse? Consciousness: Science of consciousness? Mind heal body? Meaning: Blame God for evil? God not free?

playlist

Season 14

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 13

Cosmos: Ever end? Ultimate reality? Consciousness: Death final? Free will for moral responsibility? Meaning: What causes religious belief?

playlist

Season 13

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 12

Cosmos: Beginning? What is Nothing? Why anything? Consciousness: Personal identity persist? Sleep? Human uniqueness? Meaning: New atheism?

playlist

Season 12

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 11

Cosmos: What is time? Infinite cosmos? Consciousness: How brains work? Free will illusion? Meaning: Alternative Gods? Resurrection? Hell?

playlist

Season 11

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 10

Cosmos: Religiously ambiguous? General principles? Consciousness: Illusion? Dreams? Belief systems? Meaning: What is God? Arguing God?

playlist

Season 10

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 09

Cosmos: Life inevitable? Inflation? Complexity? Consciousness: Alien intelligence? Meaning: Creator God? God all powerful? God fallacies?

playlist

Season 09

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 08

Cosmos: Beyond physics? Cosmic purpose? Consciousness: ESP clues? Keep identity? Souls? Meaning: God’s nature? Evil necessary? Immortality?

playlist

Season 08

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 07

Cosmos: SpaceTime? Science limits? Consciousness: How brains conscious? Survive death? Meaning: God vs science? Miracles? God & free will?

playlist

Season 07

Season

13 videos

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Cover image for Season 06

Cosmos: Cosmic structure? Quantum strange? Consciousness: ESP spirit? Brain free will? Meaning: God all knowing? Necessary? Agnosticism?

playlist

Season 06

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 05

Cosmos: Far future? Ultimate Questions? Consciousness: Human brains? Mind? Personal identity? Meaning: God a Person? Religion without God?

playlist

Season 05

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 04

Cosmos: Expanding universe? Extra dimensions? Laws? Consciousness: All material? Angels/demons? Meaning: God’s judgment? God create evil?

playlist

Season 04

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 03

Cosmos: Something/Nothing? Final Theory? Consciousness: Fundamental? Aliens? Meaning: God knows future? Eternal life? Science-religion?

playlist

Season 03

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 02

Cosmos: Many universes? Time Travel? Consciousness: Life after death? Mind? Free will? Meaning: Evil disprove God? Time? Arguing Atheism?

playlist

Season 02

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cover image for Season 01

Cosmos: How vast? Fine-tuned? Fake? Consciousness: Mystery? Brain structure? Souls? ESP? Meaning: God make sense? Arguing God’s existence?

playlist

Season 01

Season

13 videos

Watch

Featured Topic Series

Cover image for Mind, Art, Transcendence (Part 1)

What is the three-way relationship among mind, art, and transcendence? What is it about art that can elicit the sense of transcendence, going beyond the self, bursting the...

playlist

Mind, Art, Transcendence (Part 1)

Topic Series

6 videos

47:25

Watch

Cover image for Women in Philosophy and Physics/Cosmology

Closer To Truth is highlighting remarkable women in philosophy and physics/cosmology.

playlist

Women in Philosophy and Physics/Cosmology

Curated, Topic Series

11 videos

1:38:00

Watch

Cover image for The Global Philosophy of Religion Project

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project, in partnership with the University of Birmingham, aims to make the philosophy of religion a truly global field by promoting the...

playlist

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project

Project

24 videos

22:46:58

Watch

Cover image for Asking Ultimate Questions

Push boundaries. Discern the deep essence of existence. Search the foundations of reality. Imagine all that may exist in physical realms beyond current understanding. Seek to...

playlist

Asking Ultimate Questions

Topic Series

12 videos

1:29:44

Watch

Cover image for Universe: Beginning, Vast Size, End

Did the universe have a beginning? What was it like? Will our universe end? How? How big is the cosmos? Does it go on forever, and what would that mean? How many universes...

playlist

Universe: Beginning, Vast Size, End

Curated

5:48:03

Watch

Cover image for What is Philosophy of Biology?

We ask the broadest and most fundamental questions about biology, seeking meaning, purpose and implications of biological phenomena and systems. Questions include: life,...

playlist

What is Philosophy of Biology?

Topic Series

5 videos

39:46

Watch

Featured Topics

Deep Laws of Nature

Mystery of Existence

Free Will

Mind-Body Problems

Philosophy of Religion

Art Seeking Understanding

Vast Cosmos

Life After Death?

Time and Space-Time

Arguments Against God

Cosmic Fundamentals

Popular

Cover image for The Dawn of Consciousness

Did consciousness evolve? Featuring Donald Hoffman, Iain McGilchrist, Eva Jablonka, and Michelle Montague. Robert Lawrence Kuhn hosts.

video

The Dawn of Consciousness

51:26

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Extra dimensions—beyond length, width, height—seem like the stuff of science fiction. What would extra dimensions be like? Is time the fourth dimension? Does string...

video

Michio Kaku

Topic Series

11:32

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Cover image for Sabine Hossenfelder on Physics and the Big Questions

Sabine Hossenfelder talks about if the past exists, how the universe began and how it will end, information, math as reality, time, and consciousness. She also discusses her...

video

Sabine Hossenfelder on Physics and the Big Questions

CTT Chat

1:04:26

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Black holes warp space and time, squeeze matter to a vanishing point, and trap light so that it cannot escape. Black holes, with masses millions or billions times that of our...

video

Leonard Susskind

Topic Series

13:29

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Cover image for Sean Carroll on the Biggest Ideas in the Universe

Sean Carroll talks about about his terrific new book, The Biggest Ideas in the Universe: Space, Time, and Motion. He also dives into the importance of equations in popular...

video

Sean Carroll on the Biggest Ideas in the Universe

Authors Series, CTT Chat

1:12:58

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What does it mean for space and time to be the same thing? Not related to each other, but literally two descriptions of precisely the same entity called...

video

Lee Smolin

Topic Series

9:18

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Featured Contributors

Roger Penrose

Nobel Prize in Physics; Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, University of Oxford

Sabine Hossenfelder

Physicist and Science Writer, Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy

Sean Carroll

Research Professor of Physics, Caltech

David Chalmers

Professor of Philosophy and Co-director, Center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, New York University

Sarah Coakley

Norris-Hulse Emeritus Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge; Anglican priest

V.S. Ramachandran

Distinguished Professor; Director, Center for Brain and Cognition, UC San Diego

Paul Davies

Regents' Professor, Arizona State University

Michio Kaku

Professor of Physics, City College of New York; Futurist; Author