Читать книгу Limits of Science? - John E. Beerbower - Страница 32

A contrasting, but equally speculative argument would assert that the human mind evolved to meet the needs presented by its environment and that one cannot, therefore, expect man to have the capabilities to understand phenomena that were completely irrelevant to man’s ability to reproduce and survive. Thus, it may be that there are inherent limitations on our ability to comprehend the Universe beyond our parochial niche. I quote various well-known scientists speculating as to some such limitations in the Introduction.

This pessimistic view is strongly opposed by David Deutsch, who asserts, with no actual support, that man’s ability to continue to expand his knowledge of the broader universe is unlimited. He responds to the supposed evolutionist’s reasoning in particular by arguing that “the reach of human adaptations does have a different character from that of all other adaptations in the biosphere. The ability to create and use explanatory knowledge gives people a power to transform nature which is ultimately not limited by parochial factors … .” The Beginning of Infinity, p.56. He observes that the evolution of culture and knowledge occurs much more rapidly and with much broader reach than biological evolution. A good illustration of man’s ability to transcend the formative influences of his biosphere and biochemistry is his demonstrated ability to survive in environments that are inhospitable to human life (or, even, to any life as we know it) such as the Moon.

Of course, Deutsch cannot prove that man’s mind has the capability ultimately to understand everything in the Universe. There could be relationships or facts that simply cannot be grasped by mankind because of physical characteristics of the brain. Cf. id., pp.60–61. In other words, we do not and cannot know. After all, as Deutsch repeatedly asserts, that yet to be discovered is currently unknowable. See, e.g., id., pp.193, 197.