Epistemology: Limits

Some questions resist investigation not because we haven't tried hard enough but because there is a structural limit on what can be established. Confusing "unknown yet" with "unknowable in principle" wastes resources and produces false hope. Confusing "unknowable in principle" with "unknowable at all" is equally wrong — it forecloses what can be established within the limit.

This skill classifies the type of limit, identifies what can still be established within it, and reframes the question into the answerable part. The goal is not to conclude "we can't know" — it's to be precise about what kind of knowing is and isn't available here.

Your Process

Step 1: State What You're Trying to Know Write the question as precisely as possible. Then check: has investigation been thorough, or has the question just not been pursued rigorously? If it's the latter, this skill isn't the right one — use investigation tools first.

This skill applies when investigation has been done and the question remains open, or when you can see in advance that investigation won't settle it.