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Cover image for Robert Lawrence Kuhn: Levels of Nothing

On July 23, 2024, Closer To Truth host Robert Lawrence Kuhn gave the keynote address at an event at the University of Latvia in Riga. The event celebrated the launch of the...

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Robert Lawrence Kuhn: Levels of Nothing

Classic Chats, CTT Chat

34:41

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Cover image for Sara Imari Walker on Physics, Emergence, and Life on Other Planets

Astrobiologist and theoretical physicist Sara Imari Walker shares an intriguing new scientific theory that explains what life is and how it emerges. What is life? This is...

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Sara Imari Walker on Physics, Emergence, and Life on Other Planets

Authors Series, CTT Chat

1:23:10

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Cover image for Greg Epstein on Technology, Morality, and Non-Religion

Greg Epstein—Humanist chaplain at MIT and Harvard University—explores how technology has evolved into a dominant cultural force, often resembling a religion in its...

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Greg Epstein on Technology, Morality, and Non-Religion

Authors Series, CTT Chat

1:05:50

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Cover image for David Papineau on Consciousness, Physics, & the Mind-Body Problem

How do conscious states relate to the rest of reality? Do all animals deserve moral consideration? Can AI be conscious? Philosopher David Papineau discusses the nature of...

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David Papineau on Consciousness, Physics, & the Mind-Body Problem

Classic Chats, CTT Chat

1:13:47

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What do common people think about free will, and why should it matter what they think anyway? Do common people think they have free will? Can they be persuaded otherwise? How...

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Alfred Mele

Topic Series

9:13

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Cover image for Or Graur on the Big Bang and the Physics of Galaxies

Astrophysicist Or Graur offers a brief and fascinating overview of the history, physics, and astrophysical uses of galaxies. Starting with the history of the last two...

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Or Graur on the Big Bang and the Physics of Galaxies

Authors Series, CTT Chat

1:03:42

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Recent News

Book Excerpt

James Boyle: The Line: AI and the Future of Personhood

Read an excerpt from "The Line: AI and The Future of Personhood" by Duke Law Professor James Boyle.

Perspective

Remembering Michael Ruse

A tribute to philosopher Michael Ruse.

Perspective

Five Questions with Greg Epstein

Greg M. Epstein—Humanist chaplain at MIT and Harvard University—spoke to Closer To Truth about technology, religion, and the future of humanity.

Perspective

Five Questions with David Papineau

Learn about philosopher David Papineau's favorite topics in science, his biggest influence, his most controversial opinion, and more.

Book Excerpt

Gary Marcus: Taming Silicon Valley

Read of excerpt of "Taming Silicon Valley" by cognitive scientist Gary Marcus about Big Tech, AI, and more.

Perspective

Five Questions with Martin Nowak

Closer To Truth sat down with the mathematician and biologist Martin Nowak to discuss the inspiration behind his book, his favorite works of art, and more.

Curated Playlists

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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Some scientists claim that the universe did not have a beginning. Some theologians contend that the universe did not need a beginning. Yet the universe is expanding, and so...

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Did the Universe Begin?

Topic Series

9 videos

1:16:22

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Cover image for Why Explore Cosmos and Consciousness?

Cosmos and consciousness seem utterly different, cosmos encompassing the vast universe, consciousness emerging from tiny brains. Yet consciousness is the basis of religion,...

playlist

Why Explore Cosmos and Consciousness?

Topic Series

7 videos

1:15:14

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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 Death, Life After Death, Reincarnation (Part I)

What happens after we die? Is there life after death? If so, what kind of life? From heaven and hell to systems and cycles of reincarnation, we explore Hinduism, Buddhism,...

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Death, Life After Death, Reincarnation (Part I)

Topic Series

5 videos

48:47

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Time is a mystery; it’s not what it seems. Time’s flow feels unstoppable, yet some say time is not fundamental, perhaps not even real. Why do physicists and...

playlist

What is Time?

Topic Series

51:44

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1 of 2

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.

How do Eastern traditions address the Big Questions of existence and sentience—Closer To Truth’s pillar categories of Cosmos, Life, Consciousness, Meaning? How do...

playlist

Season 24

Season

5 videos

2:13:55

Watch

In this first series on Philosophy of Biology, Closer to Truth explores the challenges and implications of evolution.

playlist

Season 23

Season

5 videos

2:13:54

Watch

To seek the foundations of reality we look through the prism of mathematics. Mathematics is the universal language anyone, anywhere, can appreciate. We ask profound...

playlist

Season 22

Season

10 videos

4:28:34

Watch

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

13 videos

5:48:11

Watch

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

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

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

5:48:20

Watch

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

5:48:24

Watch

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

playlist

Season 16

Season

13 videos

5:48:24

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

playlist

Season 15

Season

13 videos

5:48:13

Watch

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

5:48:07

Watch

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

playlist

Season 13

Season

13 videos

5:48:03

Watch

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

playlist

Season 12

Season

13 videos

5:47:50

Watch

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

playlist

Season 11

Season

13 videos

5:47:52

Watch

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

playlist

Season 10

Season

13 videos

5:47:56

Watch

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

playlist

Season 09

Season

13 videos

5:47:56

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

playlist

Season 08

Season

13 videos

5:47:51

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

playlist

Season 07

Season

13 videos

5:47:55

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

playlist

Season 06

Season

13 videos

5:47:54

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

playlist

Season 05

Season

13 videos

5:47:56

Watch

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

playlist

Season 04

13 videos

5:47:55

Watch

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

playlist

Season 03

Season

13 videos

5:47:57

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

Nick Bostrom on Superintelligence and the Future of AI

Authors Series, CTT Chat

1:11:26

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Why is there a world, a cosmos, something, anything instead of absolutely nothing at all? If nothing existed, there would be, well, ‘nothing’ to explain. To have...

video

Martin Rees

Topic Series

6:51

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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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That the universe began seems astonishing. What brought it about? What forces were involved? How did the laws of nature generate the vast expanse of billions of galaxies of...

video

Roger Penrose

Topic Series

17:09

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video

Carlo Rovelli on White Holes

Authors Series, CTT Chat

52:47

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Could our entire universe have been created by a super-intelligent species, just like computer scientists write software to simulate chemical reactions or the weather? It may...

video

Andrei Linde

Topic Series

16:10

Watch

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

Michio Kaku

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

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

The greatest thinkers. The deepest questions.

Cosmos. Life. Consciousness. Meaning.

Closer To Truth: The Podcast

Contemporary Conversations

Newest

Robert Lawrence Kuhn: Levels of Nothing

Sara Imari Walker on Physics, Emergence, and Life on Other Planets

Greg Epstein on Technology, Morality, and Non-Religion

David Papineau on Consciousness, Physics, & the Mind-Body Problem

Alfred Mele

Or Graur on the Big Bang and the Physics of Galaxies

CTT x IAI Live

Recent News

James Boyle: The Line: AI and the Future of Personhood

Remembering Michael Ruse

Five Questions with Greg Epstein

Five Questions with David Papineau

Gary Marcus: Taming Silicon Valley

Five Questions with Martin Nowak

Curated Playlists

Ultimate Questions of Existence

Did the Universe Begin?

Why Explore Cosmos and Consciousness?

Best of Cosmology

Death, Life After Death, Reincarnation (Part I)

What is Time?

What are you interested in?

Which formats do you prefer?

Seasons

Season 24

Season 23

Season 22

Season 21

Season 20

Season 19

Season 18

Season 17

Season 16

Season 15

Season 14

Season 13

Season 12

Season 11

Season 10

Season 09

Season 08

Season 07

Season 06

Season 05

Season 04

Season 03

Featured Topic Series

Mind, Art, Transcendence (Part 1)

Women in Philosophy and Physics/Cosmology

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project

Asking Ultimate Questions

Universe: Beginning, Vast Size, End

What is Philosophy of Biology?

Featured Topics

Cosmic Beginnings

Black Holes, Dark Energy, Dark Matter

Breakthroughs in Mathematics

Consciousness

Life After Death?

Eastern Traditions and the Big Questions

Popular

Nick Bostrom on Superintelligence and the Future of AI

Martin Rees

Lee Smolin

Roger Penrose

Carlo Rovelli on White Holes

Andrei Linde

Featured Contributors

Roger Penrose

Sabine Hossenfelder

Sean Carroll

Michio Kaku

David Chalmers

Sarah Coakley

V.S. Ramachandran