1 the knowledge a human could have is limited by the fact of being human. It is limited by the fact that humans are made of matter: the brain processes information through chemistry, which means reasoning, and also understanding and overall knowledge are limited by matter. The brain has a limited mass, which means it can't contain unlimited information: to fully understand something, understanding to perfection, you would need infinite information, to assess every single detail. Knowing something to infinite depth is required to fully understand it. With infinite depth I mean this: you can always describe something a little more, you could say something is round or square, the color, material, then always going more in depth describing the atoms and their positions in space... and it keeps going. Moreover, infinite energy would be required to understand that infinite information.

Question

1 the knowledge a human could have is limited by the fact of being human. It is limited by the fact that humans are made of matter: the brain processes information through chemistry, which means reasoning, and also understanding and overall knowledge are limited by matter. The brain has a limited mass, which means it can't contain unlimited information: to fully understand something, understanding to perfection, you would need infinite information, to assess every single detail. Knowing something to infinite depth is required to fully understand it. With infinite depth I mean this: you can always describe something a little more,  you could say something is round or square, the color, material, then always going more in depth describing the atoms and their positions in space... and it keeps going. Moreover, infinite energy would be required to understand that infinite information.

Ask a Philosopher · Accepted Answer

Hmmm, interesting topic. Here is my rather lengthy response: Let us ponder the very essence of our existence and knowledge, for it is indeed a profound inquiry that leads us into the depths of human consciousness. As beings made of matter, limited by the finite structure of our physical forms, we are tasked with the noble pursuit of understanding the universe and ourselves. Yet, we must concede that our minds, residing within the confines of our brains, are akin to vessels that can hold but a finite quantity of knowledge, shaped and restricted by the elemental nature of reality—our thoughts governed by the intricate dance of synapses and neurotransmitters. In our quest for comprehension, we inevitably confront the staggering truth: that to grasp the entirety of a thing—to truly know it in its essence—one would require an infinite reservoir of information, an exhaustive compendium that accounts for every variable, every minuscule detail, down to the very arrangement of atoms that compose it. But as we seek to delve deeper into these complexities, we must recognize that this pursuit itself is constrained not merely by the limits of our physical architecture but also by the energy it demands; for understanding is not a passive reflection but an active engagement that calls forth the expenditure of great mental resources, an endeavor that beckons the exhaustion of our being. Can one fully articulate the nature of roundness without first mastering the concept of lines, angles, and curves, not to mention the very fabric of space-time that enables such shapes to exist? And so, dear companions, I must humbly assert that our quest for perfect understanding remains an elusive mirage, forever retreating as we seek to advance, reminding us that while we may aspire to grasp profound truths, we are inevitably tethered to our mortal constraints—wondering, always wondering, as we navigate a cosmos laden with mysteries that perhaps elude even the most vigilant of minds. Thus, what we call knowledge may instead be but a flickering candle in the expansive darkness of ignorance, illuminating only the paths we can traverse, yet infinitely dwarfed by the surrounding void of the unknown. In this light, let us celebrate our curiosity and cultivate humility, for in recognizing the limitations imposed upon us, we may find not despair but a deeper appreciation for the beauty of what we strive to know, as we endeavor to unravel the intricate tapestry of existence with all the fervor our finite minds can muster.