The Limits of Knowledge
Lexile: 1090 | Grade: 11
Passage
How do we know what we know? This question sits at the heart of epistemology—the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge. For centuries, scholars have debated whether knowledge is built through experience, reason, or a combination of both, and whether there are things we simply cannot know.
In ancient philosophy, Aristotle argued that knowledge begins with observation. By examining the world around us, humans form ideas and test them over time. This early empirical approach inspired generations of thinkers, including scientists of the Enlightenment who believed that careful measurement and experimentation could reveal universal truths.
In contrast, philosopher René Descartes believed that sense experience could be misleading. Famous for the phrase, 'I think, therefore I am,' Descartes began his search for knowledge by doubting everything he could not logically prove. He trusted reason above observation, believing that only clear and rational thought could lead to certainty.
But by the 20th century, both views had met new challenges. Thinkers like Karl Popper argued that science does not prove ideas true, but rather tests them until they are proven false. In this model, knowledge becomes not absolute certainty, but the best explanation that hasn’t yet been disproven. Similarly, philosophers like Ludwig Wittgenstein explored the limits of language, suggesting that some truths may be beyond what words can accurately express.
In today’s world of rapidly growing data, misinformation, and artificial intelligence, questions about the boundaries of knowledge are more relevant than ever. Can machines know things the way humans do? Are all facts equally trustworthy? As the tools for accessing knowledge grow, so too must our ability to question, analyze, and accept the possibility that some things may always remain uncertain.
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Questions
Q1: What is the main idea of the passage?
- A. Descartes proved that observation is the best source of knowledge.
- B. Knowledge has clear boundaries that were resolved during the Enlightenment.
- C. The nature and limits of knowledge have been debated for centuries and remain relevant today.
- D. Artificial intelligence can replace human thought completely.
Q2: What is the difference between Aristotle’s and Descartes’ views of knowledge?
- A. Aristotle believed knowledge came from reason, while Descartes relied on emotion.
- B. Aristotle trusted logic more than the senses, while Descartes believed in dreams as truth.
- C. Aristotle valued observation and experience, while Descartes emphasized rational thought and doubt.
- D. Both thinkers believed only in what science could measure.
Q3: According to Karl Popper, what is the role of testing in scientific knowledge?
- A. Testing proves that theories are absolutely true.
- B. Testing is only useful when repeated by philosophers.
- C. Testing helps determine how many people agree with a theory.
- D. Testing helps identify which ideas have not yet been proven false.
Q4: What can be inferred about the author’s attitude toward modern knowledge systems?
- A. The author believes that current knowledge tools have solved ancient questions.
- B. The author suggests that while access to knowledge has grown, so have the challenges of understanding and trusting it.
- C. The author thinks language is no longer important in modern knowledge.
- D. The author supports artificial intelligence as a better form of reasoning than human thought.
Q5: What does the word 'epistemology' most likely mean as used in the sentence: 'This question sits at the heart of epistemology—the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge'?
- A. The study of logic and argument
- B. The study of natural science and experiments
- C. The study of truth through history
- D. The study of knowledge and how it is acquired
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Answers & Reasoning
Q1: What is the main idea of the passage?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The passage traces the philosophical evolution of how humans define and understand knowledge, showing that it's an ongoing debate.
Q2: What is the difference between Aristotle’s and Descartes’ views of knowledge?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The passage contrasts Aristotle’s focus on observation with Descartes’ emphasis on rational certainty through doubt.
Q3: According to Karl Popper, what is the role of testing in scientific knowledge?
✅ Correct Answer: D
💡 Reasoning: Popper’s philosophy views scientific knowledge as provisional—valid until proven wrong.
Q4: What can be inferred about the author’s attitude toward modern knowledge systems?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The final paragraph points out that while we have more access to information, understanding and interpreting it correctly is harder than ever.
Q5: What does the word 'epistemology' most likely mean as used in the sentence: 'This question sits at the heart of epistemology—the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge'?
✅ Correct Answer: D
💡 Reasoning: The sentence defines epistemology directly after introducing the term, explaining its focus on the nature and limits of knowledge.
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