--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If what we regard as real depends on our…" description: "\"If what we regard as real depends on our theory, how can we make reality the basis of our philosophy? ...But we cannot distinguish what is real about t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb8/stephen-hawking-389_asks_if-what-we-regard-as-real-depends-on-our_480196.jpg" --- # If what we regard as real depends on our theory, how can… ![“If what we regard as real depends on our theory, how can we make reality the basis of our philosophy? ...But we cannot distinguish what is real about the universe without a theory...it makes no sense to ask if it corresponds to reality, because we do not know what reality is independent of a theory.” quote by Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb8/stephen-hawking-389_asks_if-what-we-regard-as-real-depends-on-our_480196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb8/stephen-hawking-389_asks_if-what-we-regard-as-real-depends-on-our_480196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb8/stephen-hawking-389_asks_if-what-we-regard-as-real-depends-on-our_480196.jpg) > “If what we regard as real depends on our theory, how can we make reality the basis of our philosophy? ...But we cannot distinguish what is real about the universe without a theory...it makes no sense to ask if it corresponds to reality, because we do not know what reality is independent of a theory.” [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reality is theory‑dependent; without a theory we cannot define what is real. **In simple terms:** Our view of reality relies on theories. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and develop robust theories. Themes philosophy science ontology Mood inquisitive analytical Type philosophical academic When to use this quote - research - education - public discourse - scientific method Key Concepts theory of knowledge epistemology Questions to Reflect On - Can we know reality without theory? - How do theories shape perception? A Different Perspective The claim can be seen as circular reasoning, limiting empirical testing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [“Which of the two possibilities corresponds to reality is simply unknown until a definite measurement is made, at which point the quantum state instantaneously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-m-lederman/which-of-the-two-possibilities-corresponds-to-reality-is-simply/) [Leon M. Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-m-lederman/) > [That reality is 'independent' means that there is something in every experience that escapes our arbitrary control. If it be a sensible experience it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/that-reality-is-independent-means-that-there-is-something-in-every/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“In other words, there is no single underlying reality that is independent of our observations. “It is wrong to think that the task of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/in-other-words-there-is-no-single-underlying-reality-that-is/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [ The only thing that's real in any universe \[is\] that brilliant fire of Love that burns to the exclusion of everything else. As we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-only-thing-that-s-real-in-any-universe-is-that-brilliant-fire-of/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The real universe is friendly to every child of the eternal God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-tonge-http-visionafarcom/the-real-universe-is-friendly-to-every-child-of-the-eternal-god/) Gary Tonge - Http://VisionAfarcom > [Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/deep-in-the-human-unconscious-is-a-pervasive-need-for-a-logical/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [While I'm a big fan of science fiction, especially as rendered in expensive Hollywood blockbusters, it's the real universe that calls to me. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/while-i-m-a-big-fan-of-science-fiction-especially-as-rendered-in/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Whatever is real in our universe is real in a moment of time, which is one of a succession of moments. The past was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-smolin/whatever-is-real-in-our-universe-is-real-in-a-moment-of-time-which-is/) [Lee Smolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-smolin/) > [Everything you can imagine is real,the whole Universe resides in your Inner Depths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandeep-shergill/everything-you-can-imagine-is-real-the-whole-universe-resides-in-your/) [Sandeep Shergill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandeep-shergill/) > [Unless thought is valid we have no reason to believe in the real universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/unless-thought-is-valid-we-have-no-reason-to-believe-in-the-real/) [C. S. 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Universe can annihilate us in seconds! If we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-humans-are-still-a-joke-in-this-universe-we-are-not-real-not-yet/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [While I'm a big fan of science fiction, especially as rendered in expensive Hollywood blockbusters, it's the real universe that calls to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/while-i-m-a-big-fan-of-science-fiction-especially-as-rendered-in-2/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More by Stephen Hawking > [The doctor who diagnosed me with ALS, or motor neuron disease, told me that it would kill me in two or three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-doctor-who-diagnosed-me-with-als-or-motor-neuron-disease-told-me/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [We are the product of quantum fluctuations in the very early universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/we-are-the-product-of-quantum-fluctuations-in-the-very-early-universe/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The human race does not have a very good record of intelligent behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-human-race-does-not-have-a-very-good-record-of-intelligent/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“We have finally found something that doesn’t have a cause, because there was no time for a cause to exist in. For me this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/we-have-finally-found-something-that-doesn-t-have-a-cause-because/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [ \[On President Bush's plan to get to Mars in 10 years\] Stupid. Robots would do a better job and be much cheaper because you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/on-president-bush-s-plan-to-get-to-mars-in-10-years-stupid-robots/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I believe the simplest explanation is, there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. 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Science will win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/there-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-religion-which-is-based-on/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“In the eighteenth century, philosophers considered the whole of human knowledge, including science, to be their field and discussed questions such as: Did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/in-the-eighteenth-century-philosophers-considered-the-whole-of-human/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [A model is a good model if first it interprets a wide range of observations in terms of a simple and elegant model, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/a-model-is-a-good-model-if-first-it-interprets-a-wide-range-of/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“Empedocles noticed that if you cover the neck before you immerse it, a clepsydra does not fill. He reasoned that something invisible must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/empedocles-noticed-that-if-you-cover-the-neck-before-you-immerse-it-a/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The human race shouldn't have all its eggs in one basket, or on one planet. 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If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. 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