--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great moment I think in human…" description: "\"The great moment I think in human consciousness is when you realize that the object in front of you is perhaps not nameable or is new, it does not fit ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e2/w-j-t-mitchell-32893_accounts_the-great-moment-i-think-in-human-consci_2793652.jpg" --- # The great moment I think in human consciousness is when… ![“The great moment I think in human consciousness is when you realize that the object in front of you is perhaps not nameable or is new, it does not fit a stereotype, and so you need to reconfigure your whole structure of knowledge to account for it.” quote by W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e2/w-j-t-mitchell-32893_accounts_the-great-moment-i-think-in-human-consci_2793652.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e2/w-j-t-mitchell-32893_accounts_the-great-moment-i-think-in-human-consci_2793652.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e2/w-j-t-mitchell-32893_accounts_the-great-moment-i-think-in-human-consci_2793652.jpg) > “The great moment I think in human consciousness is when you realize that the object in front of you is perhaps not nameable or is new, it does not fit a stereotype, and so you need to reconfigure your whole structure of knowledge to account for it.” [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizing something defies stereotypes forces a restructuring of knowledge. **In simple terms:** Encountering the unknown reshapes understanding. Key Takeaway Embrace and reframe new experiences. Themes cognition stereotypes knowledge restructuring Mood curious introspective Type academic reflective When to use this quote - education - creative work - cultural encounters Key Concepts philosophy cognitive science Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when beliefs are challenged? - What steps help integrate new concepts? A Different Perspective Resistance to change can hinder learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Great moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-moments/) [Human consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-consciousness/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Stereotype](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotype/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I think human consciousness, is a tragic misstep in evolution. 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We've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isha-judd/once-we-do-fill-the-void-and-experience-the-expansion-in/) [Isha Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isha-judd/) > [“cosmic consciousness. Here, you realize total detachment from the self and realize that you are nothing but consciousness. In this state, you will understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rowland/cosmic-consciousness-here-you-realize-total-detachment-from-the-self/) [Sarah Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rowland/) > [I see stereotypes as fundamental and inescapable and not as something that is... The kind of common view is "Oh, we shouldn't think in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/i-see-stereotypes-as-fundamental-and-inescapable-and-not-as-something/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Distinction between species and specimen is very much like the distinction between images and actual pictures, or, you know, objects that have a definite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/distinction-between-species-and-specimen-is-very-much-like-the/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Stereotypes are ways of making extremely primitive and simple differentiations. Differentiations of gender, race, class, social status - so ordinary social life is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/stereotypes-are-ways-of-making-extremely-primitive-and-simple/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [I know stereotypes have a bad reputation, people say, "Oh, you shouldn't stereotype people," but I think it's important to recognize that we couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/i-know-stereotypes-have-a-bad-reputation-people-say-oh-you-shouldn-t/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [The awkward moment when you think you're important to someone, and you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/the-awkward-moment-when-you-think-you-re-important-to-someone-and-you/) [Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/) > [That's why I love theatre, because things happen in the moment. 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Mitchell > [We segregate men from women, and no matter how many times we insist that men and women are equal, men and women should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/we-segregate-men-from-women-and-no-matter-how-many-times-we-insist/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [I see stereotypes as fundamental and inescapable and not as something that is... The kind of common view is "Oh, we shouldn't think in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/i-see-stereotypes-as-fundamental-and-inescapable-and-not-as-something/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Imperialism, or the conquest and colonization of other populations, other peoples, has had as one of its side effects the growth of a discourse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/imperialism-or-the-conquest-and-colonization-of-other-populations/) [W. J. T. 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Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [I think its a fundamental feature of images that they move from one medium to another. And this has become hyper-evident in our time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/i-think-its-a-fundamental-feature-of-images-that-they-move-from-one/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Objectivism is basically the same thing as faith-based science or for that matter faith-based foreign policy, where you start out with the assumption "We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/objectivism-is-basically-the-same-thing-as-faith-based-science-or-for/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Obviously invidious and prejudicial stereotypes need to be deconstructed and overcome, but it's not that they can be destroyed. I think that would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/obviously-invidious-and-prejudicial-stereotypes-need-to-be/) [W. 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