Well, I don’t know if I can comment on Kant or Hegel because I’m no real philosopher in the sense of knowing what these people have said in any detail so let me not comment on that too much. Roger Penrose More Quotes by Roger Penrose More Quotes From Roger Penrose It is always the case, with mathematics, that a little direct experience of thinking over things on your own can provide a much deeper understanding than merely reading about them. Roger Penrose understanding reading thinking Consciousness ... is the phenomenon whereby the universe's very existence is made known. Roger Penrose consciousness made science There is a certain sense in which I would say the universe has a purpose. It's not there just somehow by chance. Some people take the view that the universe is simply there and it runs along-it's a bit as though it just sort of computes, and we happen by accident to find ourselves in this thing. I don't think that's a very fruitful or helpful way of looking at the universe, I think that there is something much deeper about it, about its existence, which we have very little inkling of at the moment. Roger Penrose views running thinking I would say the universe has a purpose. It's not there just somehow by chance. Roger Penrose design chance purpose We have a closed circle of consistency here: the laws of physics produce complex systems, and these complex systems lead to consciousness, which then produces mathematics, which can then encode in a succinct and inspiring way the very underlying laws of physics that gave rise to it. Roger Penrose consistency circles law Intelligence cannot be present without understanding. No computer has any awareness of what it does. Roger Penrose computer understanding doe There are considerable mysteries surrounding the strange values that Nature's actual particles have for their mass and charge. For example, there is the unexplained 'fine structure constant' ... governing the strength of electromagnetic interactions. Roger Penrose mystery strange example our present picture of physical reality, particularly in relation to the nature of time, is due for a grand shake up Roger Penrose shakes relation reality Ambition, idly vain; revenge and malice swell her train. Roger Penrose vain ambition revenge If you didn’t have any conscious beings in the world, there really wouldn’t be morality but with consciousness that you have it. Roger Penrose morality motherhood world It may well be there is something else going on in the brain that we don't have an inkling of at the moment. Roger Penrose moments brain may Quantum mechanics makes absolutely no sense. Roger Penrose mechanic quantum physics I imagine that whenever the mind perceives a mathematical idea, it makes contact with Plato's world of mathematical concepts... When mathematicians communicate, this is made possible by each one having a direct route to truth, the consciousness of each being in a position to perceive mathematical truths directly, through the process of 'seeing'. Roger Penrose plato mind ideas Do not be afraid to skip equations (I do this frequently myself). Roger Penrose skip equations 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 the brain as "observing itself" all the time! Roger Penrose action brain might With thought comprising a non-computational element, computers can never do what we human beings can. Roger Penrose computer elements science No doubt there are some who, when confronted with a line of mathematical symbols, however simply presented, can only see the face of a stern parent or teacher who tried to force into them a non-comprehending parrot-like apparent competence--a duty and a duty alone--and no hint of magic or beauty of the subject might be allowed to come through. Roger Penrose magic parent teacher Some years ago, I wrote a book called the Emperor’s New Mind and that book was describing a point of view I had about consciousness and why it was not something that comes about from complicated calculations. Roger Penrose views book thinking 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 strong dog zoos My own way of thinking is to ponder long and I hope deeply on problems and for a long time which I keep away for years and years and I never really let them go. Roger Penrose long years thinking