--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What right do we have to claim, as some…" description: "\"What right do we have to claim, as some might, that human beings are the only inhabitants of our planet blessed with an actual ability to be \"aware\"? T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/roger-penrose-10729_ability_what-right-do-we-have-to-claim-as-some-m_720861.jpg" --- # What right do we have to claim, as some might, that human… ![“What right do we have to claim, as some might, that human beings are the only inhabitants of our planet blessed with an actual ability to be "aware"? The impression of a "conscious presence" is indeed very strong with me when I look at a dog or a cat or, especially, when an ape or monkey at the…” quote by Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/roger-penrose-10729_ability_what-right-do-we-have-to-claim-as-some-m_720861.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/roger-penrose-10729_ability_what-right-do-we-have-to-claim-as-some-m_720861.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/roger-penrose-10729_ability_what-right-do-we-have-to-claim-as-some-m_720861.jpg) > “What right do we have to claim, as some might, that human beings are the only inhabitants of our planet blessed with an actual ability to be "aware"? The impression of a "conscious presence" is indeed very strong with me when I look at a dog or a cat or, especially, when an ape or monkey at the zoo looks at me. I do not ask that they are "self-aware" in any strong sense (though I would guess that an element of self-awareness can be present). All I ask is that they sometimes simply feel!” [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He questions human exclusivity in awareness, noting animals display feeling and perhaps rudimentary self-awareness, challenging anthropocentric views. **In simple terms:** Animals may feel and have some self-awareness, challenging human uniqueness. Key Takeaway Recognize consciousness as a spectrum across species. Themes ethics consciousness anthropocentrism Mood thoughtful curious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - animal welfare policies - education on animal cognition - ethical debates on rights Key Concepts philosophy cognitive science Questions to Reflect On - Do animals experience consciousness similarly to humans? - What moral responsibilities arise from this view? A Different Perspective Humans may still hold unique reflective capacities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Apes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Monkeys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monkeys/) [Our planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-planet/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self -awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-awareness/) [Self Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-awareness-3/) [Zoos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zoos/) ## Related quotes > [“Life is oblivion erupting, for a brief moment, into nonoblivion in order so that oblivion may proclaim... 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Keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/reviewing-your-past-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-understand-who-you/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [“As discussed earlier, humans who lack the reflective self-awareness of normal adults, such as those with particular forms of amnesia or very young children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/as-discussed-earlier-humans-who-lack-the-reflective-self-awareness-of/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [What bothers me is the lack of self-awareness. I don't know if I have ever met a group less self-aware than political reporters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/what-bothers-me-is-the-lack-of-self-awareness-i-don-t-know-if-i-have/) [Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/) > [“What is it like being self-aware without a self-construct? Much of my self-awareness is the result of indirect observation of the effects I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas-2/what-is-it-like-being-self-aware-without-a-self-construct-much-of-my/) [M. E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas-2/) > [“The notion that animals are not self-aware is based on nothing more than a stipulation that the only way to be self-aware is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/the-notion-that-animals-are-not-self-aware-is-based-on-nothing-more/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [We are one of only three species on our planet that can claim to be self-aware, yet self-delusion may be a more significant characteristic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/we-are-one-of-only-three-species-on-our-planet-that-can-claim-to-be/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Give up defining yourself - to yourself or to others. You won't die. You will come to life. And don't be concerned with how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/give-up-defining-yourself-to-yourself-or-to-others-you-won-t-die-you-2/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The more conscious of God's presence the more I feel like being myself, the less conscious of His presence, the more I feel I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-t-kendall/the-more-conscious-of-god-s-presence-the-more-i-feel-like-being/) [R. T. Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-t-kendall/) > [Focus your mind on 'I Am', which is pure and simple being. You are Here and Now only. Contemplate what it is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/focus-your-mind-on-i-am-which-is-pure-and-simple-being-you-are-here/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [“I’m being completely myself, following my breath, conscious of my presence, and conscious of my thoughts and actions. There’s no way I can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/i-m-being-completely-myself-following-my-breath-conscious-of-my/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [Whenever you interact with people,don't be there primarily as a function or a role,But as a Field of conscious Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/whenever-you-interact-with-people-don-t-be-there-primarily-as-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“…Some timeless time later, dreamlike images began to emerge, the solar system, the Earth…the last to emerge was the sense of my everyday identity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-metzner/some-timeless-time-later-dreamlike-images-began-to-emerge-the-solar/) [Ralph Metzner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-metzner/) ## More by Roger Penrose > [Ordinary photons do have spin, they have a notion of helicity so they spin around their direction on motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/ordinary-photons-do-have-spin-they-have-a-notion-of-helicity-so-they/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [My father himself was a human geneticist who was recognized for demonstrating that older mothers tend to get more Down syndrome children, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/my-father-himself-was-a-human-geneticist-who-was-recognized-for/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [A computational device is incapable of developing a mind. We got consciousness not just by being clever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/a-computational-device-is-incapable-of-developing-a-mind-we-got/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [It is hard to see how one could begin to develop a quantum-theoretical description of brain action when one might well have to regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/it-is-hard-to-see-how-one-could-begin-to-develop-a-quantum/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [It may well be there is something else going on in the brain that we don't have an inkling of at the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/it-may-well-be-there-is-something-else-going-on-in-the-brain-that-we/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [As for morality, well that's all tied up with the question of consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/as-for-morality-well-that-s-all-tied-up-with-the-question-of/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [The basic theory in twistor theory is not to add extra dimensions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/the-basic-theory-in-twistor-theory-is-not-to-add-extra-dimensions/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [I used to make polyhedra with my father. There were no clear lines between games and toys for children and his professional work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/i-used-to-make-polyhedra-with-my-father-there-were-no-clear-lines/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [In the book, I make the point that here we have string theory and here we have twistor theory and we don't know if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/in-the-book-i-make-the-point-that-here-we-have-string-theory-and-here/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [Some people take the view that we happen by accident. I think that there is something much deeper, of which we have very little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/some-people-take-the-view-that-we-happen-by-accident-i-think-that/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [I'm pretty tenacious when it comes to problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/i-m-pretty-tenacious-when-it-comes-to-problems/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [My older brother is a distinguished theoretical physicist, a fellow of the Royal Society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/my-older-brother-is-a-distinguished-theoretical-physicist-a-fellow-of/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [If you didn't have any conscious beings in the world, there really wouldn't be morality but with consciousness that you have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/if-you-didn-t-have-any-conscious-beings-in-the-world-there-really/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [I believe there is something going on in a conscious being, which includes many animals, as well as ourselves, that is not a computational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/i-believe-there-is-something-going-on-in-a-conscious-being-which/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [Do not be afraid to skip equations (I do this frequently myself).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/do-not-be-afraid-to-skip-equations-i-do-this-frequently-myself/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) [Explore all 63 Roger Penrose quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What right do we have to claim, as some might, that human beings are the only inhabitants of our planet blessed with an actual ability to be \"aware\"? 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