Robert Means Lawrence

Robert Lawrence Kuhn is an American public intellectual, investment banker, author, and television producer recognized for his extensive engagement with topics concerning China and consciousness. He is the creator of the PBS series "Closer to Truth," which features discussions with leading experts on cosmology, consciousness, and philosophy of religion. Kuhn's academic background is diverse, holding degrees from Johns Hopkins University, UCLA, and MIT, focusing on human biology, brain research, and management.

His career includes a significant period in mergers and acquisitions before shifting to media and intellectual pursuits. Kuhn has been particularly active in interpreting Chinese policies for Western audiences, authoring books on Chinese leaders like Jiang Zemin and Xi Jinping, and producing related television programs. This work has drawn attention, with some critics suggesting his portrayals are overly favorable to the Chinese government, a characterization Kuhn has contested, asserting his aim is to foster understanding and maintain editorial control.

More recently, Kuhn has dedicated substantial effort to exploring the nature of consciousness. He has published extensively on the subject, developing a framework he calls the "Landscape of Consciousness," which categorizes and analyzes a vast number of theories about mind and awareness. This work has been presented in prominent scientific and philosophical journals, aiming to synthesize diverse perspectives on one of science's most profound mysteries.

Robert Lawrence Kuhn has made significant contributions to the study of consciousness, developing a comprehensive framework known as the "Landscape of Consciousness." This initiative involves cataloging and analyzing a wide array of theories concerning the mind and awareness. His work in this area includes a detailed taxonomy of approximately 225 theories, later expanded to over 350, presented in accessible overviews. These theories are organized across various categories, ranging from materialistic viewpoints to idealistic ones. Kuhn has further explored the implications of this framework for fields such as neurology and neuroscience, suggesting its potential to inform research and clinical approaches to disorders of consciousness. His writings also delve into the broader philosophical questions raised by this diverse theoretical landscape, including artificial intelligence consciousness, the possibility of virtual immortality, and the nature of life after death.

A significant portion of Robert Lawrence Kuhn's intellectual output has focused on interpreting China's political and societal landscape for Western audiences. He has authored influential books such as "The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin," the first biography of a living Chinese leader, and "How China's Leaders Think: The Inside Story of China's Past, Current and Future Leaders." Kuhn has also produced television and web series that explore China's challenges and leadership perspectives. His commentary on Chinese policy has been featured on major international news outlets, and he has received recognition from the Chinese government, including the China Reform Friendship Medal. While Kuhn states his intention is to bridge understanding between China and the world, his work has faced scrutiny, with some critics suggesting it leans towards propaganda and is influenced by state-sanctioned narratives.

Beyond his work on China, Robert Lawrence Kuhn is widely recognized as the creator and host of the PBS series "Closer to Truth." This program engages leading scientists, philosophers, and theologians in discussions about fundamental questions concerning the universe, consciousness, and meaning. Kuhn's role extends to executive production, writing, and hosting, establishing the series as a platform for exploring ultimate questions. His career also includes a background in investment banking, having been president and co-owner of the Geneva Companies, a mergers and acquisitions firm, before its sale to Citigroup. This diverse professional history informs his unique perspective as a public intellectual.

“My intention (as stated in the book itself, on pages 691-92) was to move beyond all the hype and bias about China so as to understand how Chinese leaders think.... Jiang didn't choose me; I chose Jiang. The book was my idea; I planned it, financed it, and wrote it to trace China's story through eight tumultuous decades of trauma and transformation. I had help -- translators, researchers, editors -- but I maintained absolute editorial control and made every editorial decision, and no one in China ever thought otherwise….”

“My rendition of events, such as the U.S. bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia in 1999, differs markedly from that of the official Chinese media. In a publisher's note, Chinese readers are advised: "Certain viewpoints and opinions of the author, as a Westerner, bear a definite distance from those of our own. Hopefully the reader will understand.".”

“My book is unprecedented -- the first biography of a living leader published on the mainland. Furthermore, there is inside information in it that Chinese media and officials aver that they never knew. One reporter complained publicly about the fact that this breakthrough was made by a foreigner.”

“Kuhn has regularly deflected accusations that he is a propagandist for the Chinese government.”

“Kuhn has carved out a niche as "one of the Western world’s most prolific interpreters of Beijing’s policies," "currying favor with China’s leadership and gaining remarkable access."”