Advancing Critical Rationalism
Our Mission
Understanding how knowledge grows (the primary concern of epistemology) is one of the most fundamental questions that humanity has ever asked. Because the growth of knowledge plays a role in every human endeavor–from science to politics to creating artificial intelligence to raising children to entrepreneurship–getting the answer wrong necessarily leads to blind alleys and errors. Fortunately, Karl Popper, David Deutsch, and other thinkers have discovered and elaborated upon the right answer: that knowledge grows via conjecture and criticism.
Such a simple idea (the entire theory of which is called critical rationalism) has an enormous number of practical implications for all of the aforementioned fields and any other in which humans can make progress. While the revolutions brought forth by Newton, Darwin, and Einstein were profound and improved mankind's lot in the universe, even they were limited to particular strands of human endeavors. But epistemology is universal for any problem a person or society faces. Therefore, spreading critical rationalism and its implications will dissolve barriers to progress that most people do not even know stand in their way.
Topic Areas
Physics
What does it mean to take our best theories in physics seriously? What do they tell us about what the world is really like, and might that help us overcome the slow rate of progress in physics?
AGI and Computer Science
Creating an artificial general intelligence will require the right theory of knowledge. It will not require Bayesian calculations or increasing our best machines' calculational repertoire.
Epistemology
All knowledge grows via conjecture and criticism. This seemingly simple idea has radical implications for fields ranging from science to politics to raising children.
Taking Children Seriously
Children's reasons, desires, emotions, and creativity all work precisely the same way that those of adults do—in short, children are people. What does this mean for parenting?
Economics
The amount of bad philosophy and widespread errors in economic research and education is overwhelming. Explaining why traditional approaches to economics are wrongheaded—and correcting for them—demands sound epistemology.
Our Fellows
Carlos De la Guardia
An AGI researcher with a background in robotics and longevity. He's writing a book explaining how human minds are uniquely, cosmically powerful, and how we can upgrade them to achieve immortality.
Maria Violaris
Quantum physicist and science communicator. Host of the Quantum Foundations Podcast and quantum science and tech YouTube channel, with plans to include thermodynamics and spacetime. Writing a popular science book to demystify quantum science and technology. Frequently creates and participates in initiatives for researchers, educators, learners, and the public. Alongside personal projects, works on research and content for Oxford spin-out OQC.
Sam Kuypers
Quantum physicist, interested in foundational questions. In his research, published in reputable scientific journals, he explores the quantum theory of time, the many-worlds interpretation, and locality. His work connects these areas under a broader commitment to realism—the view that a real world exists and that science is a quest for good explanations describing this real world.
Arjun Khemani
An 18-year-old high school dropout who launched and helped lead support at Naval Ravikant's Airchat. He is creating a documentary about our deepest theory of knowledge. In general, he works to spread optimism and fight the enemies of civilization.
Tom Hyde
Philosopher interested in the relationship between epistemology and aesthetics. He is developing Wonderism, a bold new book aiming to reconcile Enlightenment rationality with Romanticist sentiment. To wonder, both to think and to feel, to question and to marvel, lies at the heart of all human action. Wonderism explains both sides of this balance and sheds light on the relationships between knowledge and experience, reason and feeling, science and art.
Eli Parra
Interface researcher exploring the beauty and reality of abstractions through universal symbolic systems. He applies his research to diagrams of axiomatic geometry, logic, and infinity, and to prototyping new ways of reading, writing, and tracking time. He is currently building an app, Bifocals, that will expand what reading can be.
Our Books
The Sovereign Child
An exploration of Taking Children Seriously, examining how children's reasons and creativity work the same way as adults'. The book offers practical insights into parenting without rules, based on critical rationalism.
Learn MoreOur Conferences
Rat Fest
This annual conference brings together dozens of philosophy and science enthusiasts from around the world for a weekend of talks, workshops, and discussions.
Donate to Rat FestBoard of Directors
Logan Chipkin: President
Logan Chipkin is a writer and editor in Philadelphia. He currently serves as Managing Editor of a nonprofit that works to spread liberty in the West. He has written articles about fundamental physics, economics, history, and Popperian philosophy for outlets such as Gizmodo, Physics World, Quillette, History Magazine, The Libertarian Institute, The Pennsylvania Gazette, and Bitcoin Magazine, and he has written a fantasy novel called Windfall. He has also edited a book written by a prominent physicist and has collaborated with other physicists to communicate their ideas to a general audience. Finally, he hosts and produces Rat Fest, an annual in-person philosophy conference in Philadelphia.
Aaron Stupple: Board Member
Aaron Stupple is a practicing physician and father of five in Western Massachusetts. He has been promoting critical rationalism and the work of Karl Popper and David Deutsch since 2019 in the form of online community building, a web magazine, and Rat Fest, the annual in-person conference in Philadelphia. Currently, Aaron wrote a book on Taking Children Seriously, which is the application of critical rationalism to parenting.
David Kedmey: Board Member
David Kedmey is the president and cofounder of a financial technology company that helps professionals derive trading insights from historical data. His interests span AGI, biomorphs, and pedagogical software games. David has a particular passion for mentoring and supporting those working to promote and develop the ideas of Karl Popper and David Deutsch.