Robert Lawrence Kuhn on “A Landscape of Consciousness”
Closer To Truth’s Robert Lawrence Kuhn recently published an extensive new article titled “A Landscape of Consciousness: Toward a taxonomy of explanations and implications”. The paper covers the field of consciousness studies in its entirety as well as the consequences of consciousness including artificial intelligence (AI), life after death, and virtual immortality. Read Kuhn’s article…
Richard Swinburne on Evil, Atonement, and Evidence Against God
Robert Lawrence Kuhn sits down with philosopher Richard Swinburne to embark on a retrospective of his views and arguments over his illustrious career. In this episode, they’ll explore the problem of evil, atonement, resurrection, and more. Richard Granville Swinburne FBA is an English philosopher. He is an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of…
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 book he co-edited with Peter Gobets, “The Origin and Significance of Zero”. Kuhn spoke online about the concept of Nothing as well as…
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 consciousness, the mind-body problem, physicalism versus materialism, and much more. David Papineau is a British academic philosopher, born in Como, Italy. He works as Professor of Philosophy of…
Brian Swimme on Consciousness, Cultural Evolution, and the Noosphere
Professor Brian Swimme discusses cosmogenesis, our cultural evolution, human consciousness, the Noosphere, and more. Brian Thomas Swimme is a professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco where he teaches evolutionary cosmology to graduate students in the philosophy, cosmology, and consciousness program. His upcoming book, The Story of the Noosphere, will be…
Robert Wright on Evolution and the Future of Humanity
Creative thinker and media visionary Robert Wright discusses a fascinating variety of topics including social media’s effect on society, sexual psychology and monogamy, the concept of non-zero, biological and cultural evolution, and more. Bob Wright is an author and journalist known for his wide-ranging interests in philosophy, society, science (especially evolutionary psychology), history, politics, international…
Ilia Delio on Evolution, Quantum Physics, and Neuroscience in Theology
Innovative theologian and neuroscientist Ilia Delio discusses Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, technology and AI, the pursuit of extraterrestrial life, and the roles of evolution, quantum physics, and neuroscience in theology. Dr. Ilia Delio is a Franciscan Sister and a theologian from the Catholic tradition specializing in science and religion. She holds the Josephine Connelly Endowed…
Martin Rees on Cosmology and Existential Risk
Cosmologist Martin Rees discusses the latest advances in cosmology like the breathtaking images and data from the James Webb Space Telescope—galaxies formed soon after the Big Bang that are larger, earlier, more structured, and more numerous than expected—humanity’s existential risks, including pandemics, biotechnology, climate change, nuclear war, and AI, and “long-tail” risks such as asteroid…
Terrence Deacon on the Noosphere
Neuroanthropologist and co-chair of the N2 Conference Terrence Deacon discusses the noosphere, biological evolution, and the upcoming N2 conference hosted by scientific multimedia non-profit organization Human Energy to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Noosphere. 100 years ago, Philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin introduced the concept of a planetary mind called the…