Exploring the Mysteries of Consciousness: Asking Life’s Big Questions (Part 2)

Ep. 182 (Part 2 of 2) | Robert Lawrence Kuhn, producer of the popular PBS series Closer to Truth, which explores consciousness, the mystery of existence, and related topics with an open-minded approach, recently authored a remarkable article: “A Landscape of Consciousness,” in which he surveyed over 200 theories about what consciousness is. Robert tells how he inhabited each theory for a few days while writing it up, and discovered that unlike with other fields of knowledge, a study of consciousness produces more theories the more we know, rather than narrowing the field down. He emphasizes we need to be expansive with our universe of understanding of what consciousness is, and realize that how we engage with the Big Questions of life depends upon our particular theory of consciousness.

Robert tells how the Big Questions, notably what is consciousness and why is there something rather than nothing, have called him all his life, leading him to create the Closer to Truth series, to explore these questions with the leading minds of our time. What Robert didn’t know to begin with, but marvels about now, is how the passion for delving into the most fundamental, existential questions we face as humans unifies people around the world, from every demographic, providing a unique and wonderful point of integration. This is a fascinating, warm, engaging conversation that draws us ever farther into an exploration of the mysteries of life, where we glimpse what lies at the core of humanity. Recorded April 17th, 2025.

“It’s not that we have too many theories of consciousness, it’s that we have one too few.”

Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2

• The challenge of putting these theories into a digestible form (00:54)
• Understanding our personal theories of consciousness as extensions of our worldview (03:14)
• Our own theories often evolve from materialism to panpsychism to idealism (07:11)
• How the title Closer to Truth for the PBS/YouTube series came about (11:59)
• It’s easier to entertain materialist or atheist theories in environments constructed by humans—exposed to the natural universe, you encounter awe, wonder, connection (14:04)
• The concept of awe and transcendence in art and how it reflects our nature of mind (16:16)
• What has exploring these theories of consciousness done to Robert? (17:59)
• The closer we look, the more we end up in bottomless mystery (23:36)
• How exploring the Big Questions unifies people—cutting across religion, race, culture (25:28) 
• Acknowledging the limits of knowledge—epistemic humility—appreciating the mystery, and universality (29:54)
• The deeper your understanding goes, the richer your appreciation and awe (31:16)

Resources & References – Part 2

• Robert Lawrence Kuhn, creator, producer, and host of the PBS series, Closer To Truth
• Robert Lawrence Kuhn, “A Landscape of Consciousness,”article in Progress in Biophysics & Molecular Biology, August 2024
• Paul Davies, quantum physicist, director of BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, “The universe is about something.” 
• Steven Weinberg, theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate in physics
• David Charmers, philosopher, cognitive scientist
• Ken Wilber on Integral Epistemology (The Ken Show on Integral Life)
• Mind, Art, Transcendence Series (Closer to Truth video)
• Dora Serviarian Kuhn, Khachaturian Piano Concerto (YouTube video)

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Robert Lawrence Kuhn is a public intellectual; he is the creator, writer, host, and executive producer of Closer To Truth, the long-running PBS/public television series and leading global resource on Cosmos (cosmology/physics, philosophy of science), Life (philosophy of biology), Mind (consciousness, brain/mind, philosophy of mind), and Meaning (theism/atheism/agnosticism, global philosophy of religion, critical thinking). Kuhn’s comprehensive review article on theories of consciousness—“A Landscape of Consciousness: Toward a Taxonomy of Explanations and Implications”—is published in Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology (August 2024, pp. 28-169). In its review, IAI News says, “Kuhn has written perhaps the most comprehensive article on the landscape of theories of consciousness in recent memory.” 

Dr. Kuhn has written or edited over 30 books, including The Mystery of Existence: Why is there Anything At All? (with John Leslie); Closer To Truth: Challenging Current Belief; Closer To Truth: Science, Meaning and the Future; The Library of Investment Banking; How China’s Leaders Think (featuring President Xi Jinping); The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin (China’s best-selling book in 2005 and in December 2022); and The Origin and Significance of Zero: An Interdisciplinary Perspective” (with Peter Gobets). He is chairman of The Kuhn Foundation, and has a BA in Human Biology (Johns Hopkins), a PhD in Anatomy/Brain Research (UCLA), and an SM (MBA) in Management (MIT).

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Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell