The term "unknowable" refers to the inability to understand something through conventional means of knowing, such as memory, sensory perception, and reason. While this term may appear straightforward, the philosophical implications it brings to light are anything but simple. It prompts a crucial question: if something is unknowable, how can people be sure of its unknowability? This irony presents a unique challenge to human understanding, compelling the need to explore the boundaries of knowledge.
Humans are inherently curious and retrospective. They often ponder the consequences of different life choices through the question, "What if?" This query, however, leads to uncertainties. It prompts self-reflection, which may not have any answers.
To answer this question accurately, one must reconstruct past scenarios accurately, predict the outcomes of different choices without error, and consider all external variables and stakeholders involved. This level of certainty is beyond human capability. Human memories and imaginations are neither unbiased nor accurate enough to create reliable alternate realities. Hence, the question "What if?" remains perpetually unanswerable, illustrating that some aspects of life are inherently unknowable.
Black holes present another profound example of the unknowable. These cosmic entities exert a gravitational pull so intense that even light cannot escape their grasp. Once an object crosses the event horizon of a black hole, it is forever beyond observational reach. Even the most advanced sensor-equipped machines could not transmit data from within a black hole.
Scientific theories, such as the theory of relativity, allow the prediction of certain aspects of black holes. However, these predictions are limited to the realm outside the event horizon. Inside, the situation becomes speculative at best. The intense gravitational forces create conditions that current human understanding of physics cannot fully describe. Thus, unless there is a significant breakthrough in science or direct experiential knowledge, the true nature of what lies inside a black hole remains unknowable. This scenario demonstrates how scientific limitations can obstruct reason, making some aspects of the universe beyond human understanding.
Language and translation further highlight the concept of the unknowable. A good example is the "Thirukkural," a set of 1,330 couplets written by the poet-saint Thiruvalluvar between 300 and 500 CE. The original intentions behind these couplets are lost to time, leaving modern interpretations as the only means of understanding.
Language evolves, and the Tamil of Thiruvalluvar's time differs significantly from modern Tamil. Additionally, interpretation is subjective, influenced by the translator's beliefs and contexts. As a result, contemporary interpretations of the "Thirukkural" might not accurately reflect Thiruvalluvar's original intentions. This discrepancy emphasizes the limitations of language and translation, showing that some knowledge, shaped by historical and linguistic contexts, is ultimately unknowable.
The above-mentioned instances illustrate how certain aspects of reality are beyond understanding, bounded by memory, reason, and sensory perception limitations. This serves as a humbling reminder of the limitations of human knowledge. While humans strive to expand their understanding, some mysteries remain beyond reach. Accepting this can inspire a deeper appreciation for the mysteries of existence and the continuous pursuit of knowledge, even when faced with the unknowable.
