Spiritual/Philosophical: What are the obstacles to a person knowing "everything" about the nature of reality

Answer 1

Time. We could not possibly learn all there is to know in the time we are on this earth.. it's just an impossibility.

Answer 2

From a buddhist point of view I would say that knowing the true nature of reality is fully realising the interdependance of everything in the universe, that is realising that everything is just a result of the causes that make it up, and that things only have an independent reality because we perceive them in our minds that way (A tree is a collection of molecules, but so is the air around it, what makes them different?). I'm perhaps not the best explainer, but if you want to know more then you should read "a simple path" by HH The Dalai Lama, its a very deep book on the subject. This is a very good question and I'm interested by other viewpoints on the subject.

Answer 3

Perspective. Reality changes depending on where we are standing. There are infinite perspectives; including being part of the thing you are trying to know.
The nature of being human limits our perspective. We cannot know the world as an eagle or a bear knows the world. We cannot comment on the facets of reality that the dead have encountered-unless we speak to the dead. Even then, there is a language barrier that leads to miscommunication.
Perspective. As we change and grow, our perception of things does also. What we know about reality at 15,and 25 and 45 may differ. But, does that make the 15 year old reality any less valid (accurate).

Truly it is evident that reality is only perspective and it transforms as we move through it.

Answer 4

A human nervous system. We can only know those things about any "reality" that are compatible with our modes of sensation and reason. We also seem to filter our perception, only attending to a small fraction of what we sense. This suggests the human nervous system cannot know what is happening everywhere at once (no omniscience). The other obstacles are developmental; we have a starting pattern of nervous system development, and our experiences and nutrition, etc., decide how we modify that starting point to allow for future experience.

Answer 5

The limitations that come from being human. The basic sum of all knowledge, for all intents and purposes, is infinite, because it is expanding at such a rapid pace. Any one person's ability to know and understand, even to process or somehow get their hands around it all, is very limited. Unless we are able to increase our brain's processing ability,as well as our ability to get our hands on more of it faster, we are limited to what we can hear, see, that is - sensually experience at any given moment in time - plus, we have to be able to remember or somehow retain what we take in. We would somehow have to be able to transcend space and time and deal with reality in a different dimension than we are currently, as we just don't have the tools available to us right now. (Although as a child of the 60's and 70's - I have heard that if you play certain songs - for instance Rare Earth's "Ina Gadda Da Vida" backwards, you may catch a glimpse of eternity, but I forget what assistance you need to get from certain pharmaceuticals...)

To "know" something is an illusive concept also - as how do we really "know" that we know it, understand it, see it and completely understand all the subtleties and mysteries of each and every idea, thought, concept and piece of wisdom. We can say that we know what we know - but as this world keeps changing, is what I knew even 10 minutes ago worthwhile and germane to any topic that presents itself to me 10 minutes from now?

I think, therefore I am tired... Enough. Great question, though. Next time I hope it's something more along the lines of true/false, OK?

Answer 6

HA!
If you knew "everything" about the nature of reality, you would be omniscient. Since "knowledge is power", you would also be omnipotent. I'm betting you would also be omnipresent, as well...
In short, you would be God.
UH...I think that position has already been filled.
Thank you for your interest. We'll let you know if we have any openings for a Deity in the future, but there is quite a waiting list.
Speaking of which...have you seen that noodle guy anywhere? God wants to have a chat with him.......

Answer 7

---ANTHROPIC BIAS---

A man can try to catch fish by casting his net into the sea, but there is no guarantee that his attempt will yield him anything; and even if it does, there is nothing to say that his catch will hold anything edible,... let alone palatable.

This is because no matter how large and well-constructed the net is, or how intricate the weave of its mesh may be...
... a net is STILL just a net!

In mans' steadfast, albeit futile, pursuit to understand everything about his existence, the ONLY obstacle which prevents man from knowing "everything" about the nature of reality is, ironically, --- that he is MAN!
... For a man, ANY man,... is STILL just a man.

"Man! - What is the vanity of the vainest man when compared to the vanity which the most modest possesses when, in the midst of nature and the world, he feels himself to be 'man'!"
-Nietzsche

Answer 8

Well, I think one of the foremost problems with that is the fact that no one has experienced everything in reality, so it would be impossible for anyone to know everything about reality. We have a universe that spans farther than we can even measure, not even the wisest of us nor the most educated can claim to have seen a fraction of it.

The great philosopher and theologian Anselm told a story that directly is dealing with someone knowing everything about God, but can be applied to reality as well, (especially if you believe God created reality).

"I went down to the beach and sat down with my Scriptures, determined to not leave until I understood all that there was to know about God. While I studied, a young boy came and began playing on the beach. He dug a small pit in the sand and began filling it with water that he would carry from the shore. "What are you doing?" I asked him. "I am going to take the sea and empty it into this pit," he responded. "That is absurd," I told him. "You cannot possibly fit all of the sea into that pit if you worked your whole life. It's not large enough." The boy answered to me, "But you attempt something much more difficult. You are trying to fit all the knowledge of God into your mind. Of our two ventures, mine is more likely to meet with success."

Reality is so vast that no one can ever fully grasp it. People can only operate off of the knowledge that they have gained. They cannot operate off of knowledge that they have not gained. For that reason, no one will ever fully grasp "everything" about the nature of reality.

Answer 9

We are our own obstacles because reality is different for everyone. Each person's reality is based on life's experiences for comparison. Therefore, we can't know everything because we only know our own reality. Because of this, we/our life experiences are our obstacles.

Answer 10

I could only speculate here. I suppose the obstacle would be life itself. Example; im sure you have on occasion became frustrated trying to explain something to someone and they just dont understand. It would be like explaining to a child like mind set singularities and the physics surrounding it. The sheer frustration of day to day life knowing that other people just dont 'get it' would be phenomenal.

Answer 11

Excellent question :-)

- megalomania;

- fanatism (it can be only transient);

- egocentrism;

- arrogance;

- misunderstanding of human perceptions;

- not grounded;

- needs contradictors in order to evolve;

- not mature yet;

- needs a loving partner - or two - lol

- still influenced by religious illusions ("we know the truth");

- using scientific concepts doesn't make a scientist;

- needs to practise more some physical activities (because too brain-centered);

- misunderstood by most of people in real life;

- non acceptance of his/her own nature (human being), citizenship (nation, Earth-planet) and identity (names, born place & date) = the 3 main roots.