We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet.
Stephen HawkingRead
The intelligent beings in these regions should therefore not be surprised if they observe that their locality in the universe satisfies the conditions that are necessary for their existence. It is a bit like a rich person living in a wealthy neighborhood not seeing any poverty.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Intelligent beings may not realize the special conditions that allow for their existence, similar to how the wealthy may be unaware of poverty around them.
This quote by Stephen Hawking reflects on the anthropic principle, suggesting that intelligent life perceives its existence within a uniquely favorable environment, much like a rich person in an affluent neighborhood may not notice the struggles of those in poverty. It highlights the idea that our understanding of the universe is limited by our perspective, and that conditions suitable for life may be taken for granted, leading to a lack of awareness regarding the broader existential context.
Themes
IntelligenceExistencePerspectiveUniverseAwareness
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on cosmology, one might use this quote to illustrate the uniqueness of human existence.
More from Stephen Hawking
All quotes →I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.
Stephen HawkingRead
It surprises me how disinterested we are today about things like physics, space, the universe and philosophy of our existence, our purpose, our final destination. Its a crazy world out there. Be curious.
Stephen HawkingRead
I was not a good student. I did not spend much time at college; I was too busy enjoying myself.
Stephen HawkingRead
The world has changed far more in the past 100 years than in any other century in history. The reason is not political or economic but technological-technologies that flowed directly from advances in basic science. Clearly, no scientist better represents those advances than Albert Einstein: TIME's Person of the Century.
Stephen HawkingRead
In my opinion, there is no aspect of reality beyond the reach of the human mind.
Stephen HawkingRead
Similar quotes
[In mathematics] There are two kinds of mistakes. There are fatal mistakes that destroy a theory, but there are also contingent ones, which are useful in testing the stability of a theory.
Gian-Carlo RotaRead
Perhaps one day earthquakes, hurricanes and financial crashes will all be predictable. But we don't have to wait until then for seismology, meteorology and economics to become sciences; they already are.
Eric MaskinRead
The question now at issue, whether the living species are connected with the extinct by a common bond of descent, will best be cleared up by devoting ourselves to the study of the actual state of the living world, and to those monuments of the past in which the relics of the animate creation of former ages are best preserved and least mutilated by the hand of time.
Charles LyellRead
Science is based on experiment, on a willingness to challenge old dogma, on an openness to see the universe as it really is. Accordingly, science sometimes requires courage - at the very least the courage to question the conventional wisdom.
Carl SaganRead
Radio has no future." "X-rays are clearly a hoax". "The aeroplane is scientifically impossible.
Lord KelvinRead
Evolution is an indispensable component of any satisfying explanation of our psychology.
Steven PinkerRead