limit of our intellect

So for one of my final blogs I wanted to share an excerpt from my final paper with you all.  My initial topic was on the stars but after reading a great deal of the book Dr. Langguth allowed me to borrow my topic veered slightly.  Well here ya go.

My argument lies in this question: How can it be, when we acquire scientific knowledge that there are aspects of our universe that we do not understand or could not possibly understand we disregard it?  There is scientific knowledge that shows that our human capabilities are far too inadequate to comprehend certain phenomena’s especially those we are unable to come in any contact with.  This is why the stars, the solar systems, the galaxies and cosmos are so fascinating.  To clarify, it’s not that we intentionally ignore this knowledge, but we don’t appreciate it or aim to understand it on the merit that it deserves.  Why? Because we are creatures of experience.  We can try as hard as we like to understand the phenomenon and all things around us, even when science backs it up we cannot fully conceptualize it until it becomes concrete.  My favorite example of this is the effects of global warming.  Scientifically, based upon previous knowledge and understanding, we are able to predict the ramifications of climate change.  We have scientifically determined that we are at fault for this global occurrence.  We have scientifically recognized that if we do not reverse the effects we have caused terrible global events will occur.  We have scientifically evaluated how to address and solve the problem. Finally, we have scientifically predicted that our problem solving tactics and actions will be effective.  Yet, not enough is being accomplished on the issue.  We are so contradictory; we are so quick to want to acknowledge that science has all the answers but then we don’t always follow where it leads us.  This is a direct result of lack of concrete experience.  Without that palpable evidence our learning and understanding is incomplete.  Furthermore, in regards to the universe we are incapable of ever completely understanding it because we will never have hands on experience with all of it.  That is not necessarily a limitation of science, that is a limitation of human intellect. 

In my paper I really examine the role of humans in the universe, and how the universe may always be entirely to complex for us to fully understand. Our limitations are not a flaw in our scientific process.  Rather the limitation is in humanity.