--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Define self-awareness and tell me what it…" description: "\"Define self-awareness and tell me what it is about it that requires something more than a material explanation. I do not accept the burden of explainin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5f/victor-j-stenger-16236_accepting_define-self-awareness-and-tell-me-what-i_1499433.png" --- # Define self-awareness and tell me what it is about it that… ![“Define self-awareness and tell me what it is about it that requires something more than a material explanation. I do not accept the burden of explaining all phenomena, real or imagined. If you think more than matter is required for this thing you call self-awareness, which you have not defined…” quote by Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5f/victor-j-stenger-16236_accepting_define-self-awareness-and-tell-me-what-i_1499433.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5f/victor-j-stenger-16236_accepting_define-self-awareness-and-tell-me-what-i_1499433.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5f/victor-j-stenger-16236_accepting_define-self-awareness-and-tell-me-what-i_1499433.png) > “Define self-awareness and tell me what it is about it that requires something more than a material explanation. I do not accept the burden of explaining all phenomena, real or imagined. If you think more than matter is required for this thing you call self-awareness, which you have not defined, then you have the burden of showing why.” [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑awareness is the capacity to reflect on one’s own mental states, recognizing them as distinct from the external world. It suggests an inner subjectivity that may not be fully captured by physical processes alone. **In simple terms:** Knowing yourself as a thinking subject. Key Takeaway Consider inner experience beyond neurons. Themes philosophy consciousness identity Mood curious reflective Type philosophical inquisitive When to use this quote - therapy - meditation - creative work - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts subjectivity qualia first‑person perspective Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to “be” a self? - Can material explanations ever capture subjective experience? A Different Perspective Physicalism may explain mechanisms but not the felt quality of self. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [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/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Although to penetrate into the intimate mysteries of nature and thence to learn the true causes of phenomena is not allowed to us, nevertheless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonhard-euler/although-to-penetrate-into-the-intimate-mysteries-of-nature-and/) [Leonhard Euler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonhard-euler/) > [“Training in high-stress situations increases what psychologists call “situational awareness.” Defined as the ability to absorb information accurately, assess it calmly, and respond appropriately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-kotler/training-in-high-stress-situations-increases-what-psychologists-call/) [Steven Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-kotler/) > [You know, you do have a self-awareness as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/you-know-you-do-have-a-self-awareness-as-an-actor/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [ Technology is neutral. You can use \[it\] to become frenetic and to go out of your mind. But you can also use technology to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/technology-is-neutral-you-can-use-it-to-become-frenetic-and-to-go-out/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Are you anxious that a fortune teller might disclose things you'd rather not know? I assure you that if you already practice the valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mastroleo/are-you-anxious-that-a-fortune-teller-might-disclose-things-you-d/) Alice Mastroleo > [Self-awareness moves us beyond the old, well-worn pathways in the brain that support fixed, unconscious habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/self-awareness-moves-us-beyond-the-old-well-worn-pathways-in-the/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [So every time I rap about being a big girl in a small world it's doing a couple things: it's empowering my self-awareness, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzo/so-every-time-i-rap-about-being-a-big-girl-in-a-small-world-it-s/) [Lizzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzo/) > [We are creatures on this planet that have the capacity of self-awareness, playing out our role just the same as all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-kest/we-are-creatures-on-this-planet-that-have-the-capacity-of-self/) [Bryan Kest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-kest/) > [Self awareness allows you to self-correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/self-awareness-allows-you-to-self-correct/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [Self-awareness is not the same thing as self-approval, any more than imagination is the same thing as day-dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-spufford/self-awareness-is-not-the-same-thing-as-self-approval-any-more-than/) [Francis Spufford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-spufford/) > [Fear is self-awareness raised to a higher level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/fear-is-self-awareness-raised-to-a-higher-level/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [We are always searching our eye glasses by wearing the same eye glasses.Self awareness required for growth.But still we are behind other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumesh-nair/we-are-always-searching-our-eye-glasses-by-wearing-the-same-eye/) [Sumesh Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumesh-nair/) > [Self-awareness cant be built on looking at our pluses and minuses before we look at the most basic essence of what we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/self-awareness-cant-be-built-on-looking-at-our-pluses-and-minuses/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful. Because I really like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-become-self-conscious-about-it/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) ## More by Victor J. Stenger > [People want to be at the center of the Universe...and they're going to flock to anybody who tells them that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/people-want-to-be-at-the-center-of-the-universe-and-they-re-going-to/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Is there a place in a church where you leave your brains when you enter?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/is-there-a-place-in-a-church-where-you-leave-your-brains-when-you/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [To most theistic believers, human life can have no meaning in a universe without God. Quite sincerely, and with understandable yearning for a meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/to-most-theistic-believers-human-life-can-have-no-meaning-in-a/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [ Until recent times, absence of evidence for his \[Jehovah's\] existence has not been sufficient to rule him out. However, we now have enough knowledge… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/until-recent-times-absence-of-evidence-for-his-jehovah-s-existence/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [The problem is that people think faith is something to be admired. In fact, faith means you believe in something for which you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/the-problem-is-that-people-think-faith-is-something-to-be-admired-in/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [In short, evolution is as close to being a scientific fact as is possible for any theory, given that science is open - ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/in-short-evolution-is-as-close-to-being-a-scientific-fact-as-is/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Debating is not an honest intellectual exercise. It's like a trial in which the goal is not to get to the truth but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/debating-is-not-an-honest-intellectual-exercise-it-s-like-a-trial-in/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Fifteen years of skepticism has done more for me than 20 years of force-fed religion and 30 years of indifference in between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/fifteen-years-of-skepticism-has-done-more-for-me-than-20-years-of/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Just because quantum mechanics is weird does not mean that everything that is weird is quantum mechanics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/just-because-quantum-mechanics-is-weird-does-not-mean-that-everything/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [In fact, current cosmological observations indicate that the average density of matter and energy in the universe is equal, within measurement errors, to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/in-fact-current-cosmological-observations-indicate-that-the-average/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Selling eternal life is an unbeatable business, with no customers ever asking for their money back after the goods are not delivered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/selling-eternal-life-is-an-unbeatable-business-with-no-customers-ever/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [“The myth of quantum consciousness sits well with many whose egos have made it impossible for them to accept the insignificant place science perceives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/the-myth-of-quantum-consciousness-sits-well-with-many-whose-egos-have/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Any strategy that attempts to reinforce faith by undermining science is also doomed to failure. Showing that some scientific theory is wrong will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/any-strategy-that-attempts-to-reinforce-faith-by-undermining-science/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Nature is capable of building complex structures by processes of self-organization; simplicity begets complexity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/nature-is-capable-of-building-complex-structures-by-processes-of-self/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Assuming the universe came from nothing, it is empty to begin with... Only by the constant action of an agent outside the universe, such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/assuming-the-universe-came-from-nothing-it-is-empty-to-begin-with/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) [Explore all 40 Victor J. Stenger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. 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I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Define self-awareness and tell me what it is about it that requires something more than a material explanation. I do not accept the burden of explaining all phenomena, real or imagined. If you think more than matter is required for this thing you call self-awareness, which you have not defined, then you have the burden of showing why.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Victor J. 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