⇰ To Index Page

Fear of Unknown
A clear understanding of what we know, don't know, and can't know should guide us to understand world around. [KuU --the K nown, the u nknown, and the U nknowable]
Summary given below is based on presentations.

Four states of known-unknown

Known Knowns

{Do not bother. These are things we know that we know.}

Known Unknowns

{This is I know also I do not know. Leading to fear of Unknown}

Unknown Knowns

{Knowledge is not useful as we are not aware of it}

Unknown Unknowns

{Do not bother. Total Ignorance is a bliss}

We all live in the world of Unknown

  1. The knowability of the world - limits to the power of human reason. These are things we know that we know. I do not know some things, but I am sure to find out. This Known set is very very small compared to Unknown set.
  2. We live in a world where far more is unknown than known.
  3. The volume of our knowledge is very negligble with what we have yet to discover
  4. More you know, more you do not know
  5. I think I will know when I reach the target. This will never happen. {Target is a mirage. Sky touching the earth at horizon. Keep on moving, you observe the same thing}
  6. We are confronted by an unknown that moves further and further away from us.
  7. I do not know what this is and I shall never know
  8. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much.
  9. knowledge is subjective by its very nature. How we perceive is different from how a thing exists in itself
  10. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
  11. To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.

Four states of Knows and Knows Not

He who knows and knows that he knows, is a wise man ... follow him. He who does not know; and knows that does not know, is ignorant . (good student ). So, teach him.
He who knows and does not know that he knows, is asleep ... wake him. He who does not know; and does not know that does not know, is a fool ... shun or avoid him.
Source: Persian apothegm, Sanskrit Saying, Arabic Proverb, Chinese Proverb

Human perception

Human perception covers just a narrow slice of reality. Our eyes are tuned to a limited band of electromagnetic radiation known as visible light, and our ears can only register a tiny segment of the vast sound frequency spectrum. Outside these ranges lie countless forms of energy—like ultraviolet and infrared light, infrasound and ultrasound—that other animals and instruments can detect but remain invisible and inaudible to us.
Bees can see ultraviolet light patterns on flowers that guide them to nectar, while snakes detect infrared radiation from warm-blooded prey even in total darkness. Whales and elephants communicate through infrasound that travels for miles, while bats and dolphins navigate through ultrasonic frequencies far beyond human hearing. These examples reveal just how limited—and specialized—our senses really are.
Modern science and technology are helping us to expand our sensory boundaries. Infrared cameras, X-rays, radio telescopes, and sound sensors allow us to “see” and “hear” the unseen layers of the universe.

Benefit of Doubt

God – Known Unknown

We all can understand that there should be an ultimate creator or some initial conditions to start with. We use the word God, with out knowing anything about God. But we all are trying to define God, which is beyond our capability {God Only Knows}

Partially Known from Known and Unknown

unknown

Partially Known

Partially known is a dots game of connecting dots. One has to create their own dots and creates shapes to make some sense.
Each person creating their own theory or solutions, with their own additions.
Few out of many solutions become popular and gets established as authentic. Others are lost for ever.
Most of the problems in the world are partially known types.

Fear of Unknown

Known Unknown: Dark Energy, Dark Matter

Managing great unknown

Examples

Decision theory approach

Thresholds approaches

Rig Vedic shloka example for Unknown

Rig Vedic shloka below (Rig Veda 10. 129) says that no one knows how was the universe created? This explains limitations on knowing about existence and discussing the vastness of the universe.
But, after all, who knows, and who can say
Whence it all came, and how creation happened?
the gods themselves are later than creation,
so who knows truly whence it has arisen?
Whence all creation had its origin,
he, whether he fashioned it or whether he did not,
he, who surveys it all from highest heaven,
he knows - or maybe even he does not know.
Nobody can claim to have found any ULTIMATE TRUTH. It is not even clear what ULTIMATE TRUTH, means or can be identified
Nara Contact terms