Lawrence Krauss
Theoretical physicist, author of A Universe from Nothing, host of The Origins Podcast
14 videos analysed · 109 quotes checked word for word · updated 2026-10-18
Key facts
- Born in New York in 1954, raised in Toronto; PhD in physics from MIT (1982). Wikipédia 2026 · Lawrence M. Krauss (Wikipedia)
- Author of The Physics of Star Trek, Fear of Physics and A Universe from Nothing (2012). Wikipédia 2026 · Lawrence M. Krauss (Wikipedia)
Positions
click a row to see the evidenceHe believes in no god and says it is intellectually lazy to answer 'God did it' to what we do not yet understand. He used to call himself an anti-theist; since about 2021 he says he is an 'apatheist': God is irrelevant to everything he does. A universe without God, he says, does not disprove God but makes the hypothesis redundant.
2012 Called himself an anti-theist (a label his friend Christopher Hitchens gave him), not only an atheist. Video 2024 · Lawrence Krauss - Illusion 1: A…
- God explains nothing: he calls the word undefined, with many different meanings in different times and places, and says that answering 'God did it' to what we do not yet understand is intellectually lazy. Video 2024 · Lawrence Krauss' Best Arguments…2
- Beliefs should follow evidence, not the reverse: one should not assume the answers before asking the questions. Religion, he says, assumes its answers first, and he sees no empirical evidence of miracles or of a divine Jesus. Video 2016 · Krauss, Meyer, Lamoureux: What’s…23
- The universe looks nothing like a designed place: it is mostly hostile to life and life will end, and the apparent fine-tuning is explained by the huge number of galaxies and stars. Video 2016 · Krauss, Meyer, Lamoureux: What’s…
- The scriptures make claims about the physical world that science shows to be wrong, and a God who punishes unbelief or demands worship is petty rather than merciful. Video 2021 · Lawrence Krauss discusses his…23
- Science cannot disprove God, but a universe that works without Him makes the hypothesis redundant; today he calls himself an apatheist, since God is irrelevant to his work. Video 2016 · Krauss, Meyer, Lamoureux: What’s…234
Everything that begins has a cause, so the universe has a first cause: God.
He says the universe need not have a cause, and that 'first cause' may be a red herring based on the logic of everyday experience.
The universe is so finely tuned for life that it must have been made for us.
He says the universe is mostly hostile to life, and that the apparent tuning is explained by the huge number of galaxies and stars; anthropic selection only shows we live where life is possible.
See 1 more objections
Science cannot disprove God, so atheism goes beyond the evidence.
He grants that science cannot disprove God, but says a universe without God is plausible, which makes the hypothesis redundant, and that scriptures are wrong about the physical world.
Defends : Eternal punishment for the faults of one life: the problem of hell, The problem of evil, Against miraclesCriticizes : Whatever begins has a cause: the universe too, The moral law points to a lawgiver, The fine-tuning of the universe: too perfect a coincidence?, The watch and the eye
In 2025 he says we probably do not have free will 'in some sense': our decisions are determined by many factors, which should change how we think about punishment.
- Our decisions are determined by many factors, so we probably lack free will in some sense. Video 2025 · FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR…
- He draws a practical consequence: if choices are determined, we should rethink how we think about punishment. Video 2025 · FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR…
If our decisions are determined, nobody can be held responsible for what they do.
He says we probably lack free will in some sense, and that this should change how we think about punishment.
Free will is a matter of definition: acting on our own desires is freedom enough.
In his debate with Craig he says any evidence for God would have to be miraculous, and that we cannot say 'we don't like something, therefore God exists'.
He argues that asking for the purpose of the universe presumes there is one, and that thinking the universe was created for us is solipsistic: realizing it was not 'produces a kind of cosmic humility'.
- The universe was not made for us: evolution was not designed for humans, and the idea that it was is solipsistic and should produce cosmic humility. Video 2013 · Lawrence M. Krauss || A Universe…2
- One must first ask whether a purpose exists and look for evidence of it, rather than assume it. Video 2016 · #92 Debate Lawrence Krauss vs…
- We are insignificant and the future is bleak, yet we should enjoy our brief moment; with no cosmic scorekeeper, we answer only to ourselves. Video 2013 · Lawrence M. Krauss || A Universe…2
Without a purpose given from above, life is bleak and the universe is cold.
He agrees we are insignificant and the future bleak, but says we should enjoy our brief moment.
The universe exists for us: it was created so that humans could live.
He calls this idea solipsistic and says the right response to the cosmos is humility.
See 1 more objections
Should we not assume there is a purpose, and ask why it exists?
He says one must first ask whether there is a purpose and look for evidence of it, rather than assume it.
No sourced position yet on: Source of knowledge, Certainty, Mind and body, Status of morality, Human nature.
On the big questions
Does God exist?Atheism
He argues that the universe does not need a creator and that apparent design is not evidence for God.
- God explains nothing: he calls the word undefined, with many different meanings in different times and places, and says that answering 'God did it' to what we do not yet understand is intellectually lazy. Video 2024 · Lawrence Krauss' Best Arguments…2
- Beliefs should follow evidence, not the reverse: one should not assume the answers before asking the questions. Religion, he says, assumes its answers first, and he sees no empirical evidence of miracles or of a divine Jesus. Video 2016 · Krauss, Meyer, Lamoureux: What’s…23
- The universe looks nothing like a designed place: it is mostly hostile to life and life will end, and the apparent fine-tuning is explained by the huge number of galaxies and stars. Video 2016 · Krauss, Meyer, Lamoureux: What’s…
- The scriptures make claims about the physical world that science shows to be wrong, and a God who punishes unbelief or demands worship is petty rather than merciful. Video 2021 · Lawrence Krauss discusses his…23
- Science cannot disprove God, but a universe that works without Him makes the hypothesis redundant; today he calls himself an apatheist, since God is irrelevant to his work. Video 2016 · Krauss, Meyer, Lamoureux: What’s…234
Everything that begins has a cause, so the universe has a first cause: God.
He says the universe need not have a cause, and that 'first cause' may be a red herring based on the logic of everyday experience.
The universe is so finely tuned for life that it must have been made for us.
He says the universe is mostly hostile to life, and that the apparent tuning is explained by the huge number of galaxies and stars; anthropic selection only shows we live where life is possible.
See 1 more objections
Science cannot disprove God, so atheism goes beyond the evidence.
He grants that science cannot disprove God, but says a universe without God is plausible, which makes the hypothesis redundant, and that scriptures are wrong about the physical world.
Defends : Eternal punishment for the faults of one life: the problem of hell, The problem of evil, Against miraclesCriticizes : Whatever begins has a cause: the universe too, The moral law points to a lawgiver, The fine-tuning of the universe: too perfect a coincidence?, The watch and the eye
The question on the site: all the argumentsDoes life have a meaning?A meaning to create
The universe gives no purpose; we find ours ourselves.
- The universe was not made for us: evolution was not designed for humans, and the idea that it was is solipsistic and should produce cosmic humility. Video 2013 · Lawrence M. Krauss || A Universe…2
- One must first ask whether a purpose exists and look for evidence of it, rather than assume it. Video 2016 · #92 Debate Lawrence Krauss vs…
- We are insignificant and the future is bleak, yet we should enjoy our brief moment; with no cosmic scorekeeper, we answer only to ourselves. Video 2013 · Lawrence M. Krauss || A Universe…2
Without a purpose given from above, life is bleak and the universe is cold.
He agrees we are insignificant and the future bleak, but says we should enjoy our brief moment.
The universe exists for us: it was created so that humans could live.
He calls this idea solipsistic and says the right response to the cosmos is humility.
See 1 more objections
Should we not assume there is a purpose, and ask why it exists?
He says one must first ask whether there is a purpose and look for evidence of it, rather than assume it.
Are we free?No free will
He says we probably lack free will in some sense, since our decisions are determined by many factors.
- Our decisions are determined by many factors, so we probably lack free will in some sense. Video 2025 · FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR…
- He draws a practical consequence: if choices are determined, we should rethink how we think about punishment. Video 2025 · FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR…
If our decisions are determined, nobody can be held responsible for what they do.
He says we probably lack free will in some sense, and that this should change how we think about punishment.
Free will is a matter of definition: acting on our own desires is freedom enough.
Can we be certain of anything?Through experience, with care
He avoids the word 'belief': claims are more or less likely given the evidence, and he is willing to be wrong.
- Science gives no absolute certainty but can say that some claims are wrong; things are likely or unlikely according to evidence. Video 2013 · Lawrence Krauss vs Hamza…2
- He says he believes nothing but follows evidence and is willing to be wrong, which is what lets science progress, unlike religion's claim to be absolutely right. Video 2025 · FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR…2
Science gives no absolute certainty, so why trust it more than scripture?
He agrees science gives no absolute certainty, but says it can show that some claims are wrong, and that it progresses because we can be wrong, unlike religion.
Atheism is a belief too, and it takes as much faith as religion.
He says atheism is not a belief, and that he avoids 'belief' altogether: things are likely or unlikely according to evidence.
What makes something right?Nature or conscience
He says morality needs no God: it comes from reason, evidence and respect for others, and progress came from the Enlightenment, not from religion.
- It is clearly wrong that rational beings cannot act morally without belief in God: rational brains can overcome evolved tendencies and reach respect for others through reason and evidence. Video 2018 · Lawrence Krauss Debate - Has…
- He turns the question back: would a divine command make cruelty good? And the scriptures, read literally, contain reprehensible morals (Lot offering his daughters). Video 2025 · FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR…2
- Moral progress, and democracy itself, came from the Enlightenment and from dropping religions that claim a monopoly on truth; even Christianity grew gentler in a secular, open society. Video 2018 · Lawrence Krauss Debate - Has…23
- He grants that religion brings consolation and community, while denying that it is the basis of morality. Video 2014 · Lawrence Krauss vs Christians on…
Without God there is no objective morality: rational beings cannot act morally without divine belief.
He says this is clearly wrong: rational brains can overcome evolved tendencies and reach respect for others by reason and evidence, with no God needed.
Moral progress, such as human rights and democracy, came from Christianity.
He says moral progress and democracy came from the Enlightenment, and that Christianity grew gentler because it lived in a secular world shaped by the Enlightenment.
See 1 more objections
Without a divine judge to keep score, there is nothing to make people behave well.
He says there is no cosmic scorekeeper: we answer only to ourselves, and can judge a secular society by looking at the world.
Why is there something rather than nothing?Physics answers
In his book, 'nothing' means no space at all, and he argues that physics shows how a universe can arise from it.
- Empty space is unstable: with quantum mechanics and relativity, 'nothing' (no space, no particles) eventually gives rise to something. Video 2024 · Lawrence Krauss - Illusion 1: A…
- The question 'why' presumes a purpose; the real, answerable question is 'how', so asking 'why' begs the question. Video 2016 · #92 Debate Lawrence Krauss vs…2
- Our idea of 'nothing' keeps changing with science, which is the kind of learning theology never does; he sees no need for God as the foundation of existence. Video 2013 · Lawrence M. Krauss || A Universe…2
- He answers the first-cause objection by saying there may be no 'before' the universe, and that it is a red herring built on everyday logic. He admits his scenario only makes the idea plausible and that the origin of the laws is an open question. Video 2024 · Lawrence Krauss - Illusion 1: A…23
The 'nothing' of physics, empty space and the laws of quantum mechanics, is not really nothing.
He defends defining nothing physically as the absence of space and particles, but admits his scenario only makes a universe from nothing plausible, and that he does not know where the laws of quantum mechanics come from.
Why is there something rather than nothing? Physics explains how, not why.
He says 'why' questions presume a purpose, and the real, answerable question is how; endless 'why' ends in turtles all the way down.
See 1 more objections
Whatever begins to exist has a cause, so the beginning of the universe needs one.
He says there may be no 'before' the universe, so asking what happened before may be a bad question.
Defends : A universe can arise from nothing: the quantum vacuum is not stable
The question on the site: all the argumentsCan science explain everything?True, but not everything
Science is the only source of knowledge about the physical world, but we live in one universe with limits on what we can know.
- For the physical world, science is the only source of knowledge, because it is open to challenge rather than authority. Video 2016 · Debate | Lawrence Krauss vs…
- It has limits: we live in a single universe, so we can only infer a multiverse indirectly, and string theory has not yet explained our universe's origin. Video 2013 · Lawrence M. Krauss || A Universe…2
The multiverse cannot be tested, so it is not science.
He says we can only infer a multiverse indirectly since we live in a single universe, and that unlike God it is testable and born from physics.
Science is not the only source of knowledge: philosophy and religion also tell us about reality.
He says that for the physical world science is the only source of knowledge, because it is open to challenge rather than authority.
Defends : A theory is scientific if it can be refuted
The question on the site: all the argumentsIn their words
God's irrelevant to everything I do
it is intellectually lazy to just stop asking questions and stop looking for physical explanations and just say God did it
God doesn't explain a darn thing, never has, never will
there's no Cosmic dictator or scorekeeper
1 more quotes
I don't really give a damn about what 'nothing' means to philosophers; I care about the 'nothing' of reality.
How the ideas evolved
Click a step for details2008The Origins Project
He founds the Origins Project at Arizona State University to explore big questions about the universe.
2009A lecture that becomes a book
A lecture he gives to the Richard Dawkins Foundation grows into A Universe from Nothing.
2011Debate with Craig
On March 30 he debates William Lane Craig at North Carolina State University. He says infinity is not a problem for physics and the universe is not fine-tuned for life.
2012A Universe from Nothing
The book reaches the New York Times bestseller list. Its afterword is by Richard Dawkins. David Albert, in the New York Times, argues that the book does not answer its own question.
2012Physics and philosophy
In an interview with The Atlantic he says he does not care what 'nothing' means to philosophers. After the reaction he writes that he did not mean a blanket condemnation of philosophy, a clarification critics found partial.
2013Not even 'an atheist'
In a podcast he says he does not label himself an atheist, though he believes in no god: for him it is not a belief system but a wish to base ideas on evidence.
In their words« I don't label myself as an atheist I know I get labeled it but I certainly don't label myself that way »He says he does not label himself an atheist, though he believes in no deity. watch
« it's not a belief system it can't be compared to theism it's just people who want to base their ideas on the evidence of experience and rational thought »He says atheism is not a belief system but a wish to base ideas on evidence and rational thought. watch
« Craig and some others who are much more slippery who are experts at rhetorical devices and not content »He says D'Souza and Craig are slippery debaters, experts in rhetoric rather than content. watch
2016Debate with John Lennox
Debating John Lennox, he says 'why' questions presume a purpose and that God explains nothing: the word has no clear definition and means what people want.
In their words« the why question there is no why question in general the why question is an invention it it because the why question presumes there must be purpose »He says 'why' questions presume purpose; the real question is how, so asking 'why' begs the question. watch
« you should ask the question is there a purpose »He says one must first ask whether there is a purpose and look for evidence of it. watch
« there's no explanation God doesn't explain a darn thing never has never will »He says God explains nothing: the word is undefined and means what people want it to be. watch
2019The Origins Podcast
He becomes president of the Origins Project Foundation and hosts The Origins Podcast, with long conversations with scientists and thinkers.
2021 Change of mindFrom anti-theist to apatheist
He says he has 'evolved' from being an anti-theist to an apatheist: he does not care, because God is irrelevant to everything he does. In 2024 he repeats it.
In their words« i've i've i've uh evolved from being an anti theist uh to being an apatheist because i really don't care because god doesn't god's irrelevant to everything i do »He says he has moved from anti-theist to apatheist: God is irrelevant to his work. watch
« you don't need a a purposeful source things can just come into existence »Asked what replaces God as the foundation of existence, he answers nothing is needed. watch
« the presumption that you require some intelligent entity to create that is just a human anachronism »He calls the need for an intelligent creator a human anachronism. watch
The arguments 9
The site's arguments they defend or criticize, and why. Click a title to see the full argument.
He argues that a God who punishes unbelief forever and demands worship is petty, neither tolerant nor merciful.
His own argument: quantum mechanics and gravity make 'nothing' unstable, so a universe can arise from it.
He argues a God who punishes unbelief or demands worship is petty and irrational.
He says miracles and the Bible as God's word are extraordinary claims with no evidence.
Science progresses because we can be wrong, unlike religion's claim to be absolutely right.
He rejects Craig's claim that actual infinities are impossible, and says physics allows something to come from nothing.
He rejects the claim that we cannot be moral without God, and turns it round: would a divine order make cruelty good?
He calls the idea that the universe is fine-tuned for us nonsense. He finds the anthropic picture odd and rather depressing, but sees many universes as a possible explanation.
He says intelligent-design objections to evolution have each been refuted, and asks who designed the designer.
Allies and opponents
Richard DawkinsClose
He backs Dawkins: atheists should be able to ask questions without penalty.
Richard DawkinsClose
Dawkins wrote the afterword of A Universe from Nothing.
Christopher HitchensClose
Hitchens had agreed to write the foreword but was too ill.
Sean CarrollSparring partner
Carroll doubts that physics answers why there is anything at all: 'In a word: no.'
William Lane CraigDisagrees
Debated Craig in 2011 on whether there is evidence for God; later calls Craig a slippery debater, expert in rhetoric rather than content.
Debates and big conversations
Signature ideas
A 'nothing' that physics can study
For Krauss, 'nothing' is not a word to define in the armchair: it is the empty state with no space, and its properties are a question for physics. Critics reply that the laws of quantum theory are still something.
Closest and furthest
how it is computedAmong the philosophers
Among today's voices
Take the Compass: 5 minutes to find out which philosophers you are closest to.
All sources (65)
- Lawrence M. Krauss (Wikipedia) Wikipedia · 2026
- A Universe from Nothing (Wikipedia) Wikipedia · 2026
- Is There Evidence for God? The Craig-Krauss Debate Reasonable Faith · 2011
- On the Origin of Everything (review of A Universe from Nothing, by David Albert) The New York Times Sunday Book Review · 2012 *
- Krauss: I don't really give a damn what 'nothing' means to philosophers (quotes the Atlantic interview) Blog, quoting The Atlantic (Ross Andersen) · 2012
- Krauss apologizes for dissing philosophy Why Evolution Is True (on Krauss's Scientific American column) · 2012 *
- Is the universe fine-tuned for life? PBS NOVA · 2012 *
- The Universe May Not Have a Purpose - But You Do, Thanks to Science Big Think (read from search summary) · 2013 *
- Lawrence Krauss vs Hamza Tzortzis | Islam vs Atheism Debate YouTube · 2013
- Lawrence Krauss discusses his book, "A Universe From Nothing," at the Atheist & Christian Book Club YouTube · 2021
- Lawrence Krauss vs Hamza Tzortzis | Islam vs Atheism Debate YouTube · 2013
- Lawrence Krauss vs Hamza Tzortzis | Islam vs Atheism Debate YouTube · 2013
- Lawrence Krauss discusses his book, "A Universe From Nothing," at the Atheist & Christian Book Club YouTube · 2021
- Lawrence Krauss discusses his book, "A Universe From Nothing," at the Atheist & Christian Book Club YouTube · 2021
- Lawrence Krauss vs Hamza Tzortzis | Islam vs Atheism Debate YouTube · 2013
- FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR Secular Ethics,What's Best for Society? | Lawrence Krauss VS Mike Jones YouTube · 2025
- Debate | Lawrence Krauss vs Robert Wright Physics Philosophy and New Atheism YouTube · 2016
- Is God Necessary? A Universe From Nothing - Lawrence Krauss YouTube · 2021
- Krauss, Meyer, Lamoureux: What’s Behind it all? God, Science and the Universe. YouTube · 2016
- TTA Podcast 141: A Universe From Nothing (with Lawrence Krauss) YouTube · 2013
- Is God Necessary? A Universe From Nothing - Lawrence Krauss YouTube · 2021
- Is God Necessary? A Universe From Nothing - Lawrence Krauss YouTube · 2021
- Lawrence Krauss - Illusion 1: A Universe from Nothing - Scientifically Informed Philosophy S1E1 YouTube · 2024
- Krauss, Meyer, Lamoureux: What’s Behind it all? God, Science and the Universe. YouTube · 2016
- Lawrence Krauss' Best Arguments against Religion YouTube · 2024
- FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR Secular Ethics,What's Best for Society? | Lawrence Krauss VS Mike Jones YouTube · 2025
- #92 Debate Lawrence Krauss vs John Lennox Does The Cosmos Leave Space For God 2013 YouTube · 2016
- FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR Secular Ethics,What's Best for Society? | Lawrence Krauss VS Mike Jones YouTube · 2025
- Lawrence Krauss' Best Arguments against Religion YouTube · 2024
- #92 Debate Lawrence Krauss vs John Lennox Does The Cosmos Leave Space For God 2013 YouTube · 2016
- Krauss, Meyer, Lamoureux: What’s Behind it all? God, Science and the Universe. YouTube · 2016
- Krauss, Meyer, Lamoureux: What’s Behind it all? God, Science and the Universe. YouTube · 2016
- Lawrence Krauss' Best Arguments against Religion YouTube · 2024
- Krauss, Meyer, Lamoureux: What’s Behind it all? God, Science and the Universe. YouTube · 2016
- TTA Podcast 141: A Universe From Nothing (with Lawrence Krauss) YouTube · 2013
- 'A Universe From Nothing' by Lawrence Krauss, AAI 2009 YouTube · 2009
- Lawrence Krauss - Illusion 1: A Universe from Nothing - Scientifically Informed Philosophy S1E1 YouTube · 2024
- #92 Debate Lawrence Krauss vs John Lennox Does The Cosmos Leave Space For God 2013 YouTube · 2016
- Lawrence M. Krauss || A Universe from Nothing || Radcliffe Institute YouTube · 2013
- Lawrence M. Krauss || A Universe from Nothing || Radcliffe Institute YouTube · 2013
- Lawrence Krauss - Illusion 1: A Universe from Nothing - Scientifically Informed Philosophy S1E1 YouTube · 2024
- Is God Necessary? A Universe From Nothing - Lawrence Krauss YouTube · 2021
- #92 Debate Lawrence Krauss vs John Lennox Does The Cosmos Leave Space For God 2013 YouTube · 2016
- Is God Necessary? A Universe From Nothing - Lawrence Krauss YouTube · 2021
- Lawrence Krauss - Illusion 1: A Universe from Nothing - Scientifically Informed Philosophy S1E1 YouTube · 2024
- Lawrence M. Krauss || A Universe from Nothing || Radcliffe Institute YouTube · 2013
- Lawrence M. Krauss || A Universe from Nothing || Radcliffe Institute YouTube · 2013
- Lawrence Krauss Debate - Has Science Buried God? Part 2 YouTube · 2018
- Lawrence Krauss Debate - Has Science Buried God? Part 2 YouTube · 2018
- FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR Secular Ethics,What's Best for Society? | Lawrence Krauss VS Mike Jones YouTube · 2025
- Lawrence Krauss vs Hamza Tzortzis | Islam vs Atheism Debate YouTube · 2013
- Debate | Lawrence Krauss vs Robert Wright Physics Philosophy and New Atheism YouTube · 2016
- FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR Secular Ethics,What's Best for Society? | Lawrence Krauss VS Mike Jones YouTube · 2025
- Lawrence Krauss vs Christians on Q&A - Amazing Debate YouTube · 2014
- FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR Secular Ethics,What's Best for Society? | Lawrence Krauss VS Mike Jones YouTube · 2025
- Lawrence Krauss discusses his book, "A Universe From Nothing," at the Atheist & Christian Book Club YouTube · 2021
- FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR Secular Ethics,What's Best for Society? | Lawrence Krauss VS Mike Jones YouTube · 2025
- Lawrence Krauss vs Hamza Tzortzis | Islam vs Atheism Debate YouTube · 2013
- Lawrence M. Krauss || A Universe from Nothing || Radcliffe Institute YouTube · 2013
- Lawrence Krauss discusses his book, "A Universe From Nothing," at the Atheist & Christian Book Club YouTube · 2021
- TTA Podcast 141: A Universe From Nothing (with Lawrence Krauss) YouTube · 2013
- Is God Necessary? A Universe From Nothing - Lawrence Krauss YouTube · 2021
- Lawrence M. Krauss || A Universe from Nothing || Radcliffe Institute YouTube · 2013
- TTA Podcast 141: A Universe From Nothing (with Lawrence Krauss) YouTube · 2013
- FIERY DEBATE Christianity OR Secular Ethics,What's Best for Society? | Lawrence Krauss VS Mike Jones YouTube · 2025