limited understanding of reality
Our understanding of reality is inherently limited from multiple perspectives—philosophical, biological, and theological.
Philosophically, thinkers like Immanuel Kant have argued that humans can only perceive *phenomena*, or appearances, not the *noumena*, or things-in-themselves, suggesting that our understanding is restricted by the constraints of human cognition and perception.
Biologically, our sensory systems are evolved to help us survive rather than provide an accurate picture of the universe. As such, what we see, hear, or feel is just a small slice of a far more complex reality, with many aspects of existence lying beyond our biological capabilities.
Theologically, many religious traditions propose that human understanding is limited by the divine, with reality being shaped by forces or beings beyond human comprehension, thus leaving us with a partial understanding of existence.
Across these domains, the common thread is the recognition that our grasp of reality is far more constrained than we might assume, influenced by the limits of our perception, biology, and the unseen metaphysical forces that shape our worldview.
- Donald Hoffman – Cognitive scientist known for his "Interface Theory of Perception," which argues that our perceptions are evolved shortcuts and do not reflect objective reality.
- David Bohm – Theoretical physicist who proposed the "Implicate Order," suggesting that reality is much deeper and interconnected than what we perceive.
- Nick Bostrom – Philosopher known for the "Simulation Hypothesis," which explores the idea that our understanding of reality might be constrained within a simulated environment.
- Terence McKenna – Ethnobotanist and philosopher who explored human perception and consciousness, arguing that our understanding is shaped by biological and cultural filters.
- Immanuel Kant – Philosopher who proposed that humans can only know phenomena (appearances) but not noumena (things-in-themselves), emphasizing the limitations of human perception.
- Thomas Kuhn – Philosopher of science who argued in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions that our scientific paradigms shape and limit how we interpret reality.
- John Vervaeke – Cognitive scientist and philosopher who discusses "relevance realization" and the limits of human cognition in grasping complex reality.
- Graham Harman – Philosopher associated with object-oriented ontology (OOO), arguing that human perception only reveals a small fraction of an object's true nature.
- Carl Sagan – Astronomer and science communicator who often emphasized the vastness of the cosmos and humanity's limited understanding of it.
- Robert Anton Wilson – Writer and philosopher known for his work on reality tunnels, suggesting that our beliefs and perceptions severely limit our understanding of the broader reality.