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What is Unknowability?
Grade Level:
Class 7
AI/ML, Data Science, Research, Journalism, Law, any domain requiring critical thinking
Definition
What is it?
Unknowability refers to something that cannot be known or understood, either because there isn't enough information, or because it's impossible to gather that information. It means there are limits to what we can find out, no matter how hard we try.
Simple Example
Quick Example
Imagine you want to know the exact number of grains of sand on all the beaches in India. Even with the best computers and a lifetime of counting, it's practically impossible to get an exact, unchanging number. This is an example of something that is unknowable.
Worked Example
Step-by-Step
Let's say you want to predict the exact price of onions in your local market next year, on a specific date (e.g., August 15th, 2025). Here's why it's unknowable:
1. You can look at past onion prices to see trends.
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2. You can check current weather forecasts for the next few months to predict future harvests.
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3. You can research government policies on agriculture or trade.
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4. However, unexpected events like a sudden flood, a new disease affecting crops, a change in international trade, or even a sudden increase in demand due to a festival cannot be predicted with certainty so far in advance.
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5. Because of these many unpredictable factors, the exact price of onions on that future date is unknowable right now.
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ANSWER: The exact future price of onions on a specific distant date is unknowable due to countless unpredictable variables.
Why It Matters
Understanding unknowability is crucial in fields like AI/ML, data science, and research. It helps scientists and engineers know when they're hitting a limit, preventing them from wasting time trying to find answers that don't exist. It also teaches us to be humble about what we claim to know.
Common Mistakes
MISTAKE: Thinking that if we just had more time or better tools, we could know everything. | CORRECTION: Some things are fundamentally unknowable, meaning no amount of time or tools will reveal the answer because the information simply doesn't exist or is too complex to capture.
MISTAKE: Confusing 'difficult to know' with 'unknowable'. | CORRECTION: 'Difficult to know' means we *can* find the answer with effort, like finding a specific book in a huge library. 'Unknowable' means the answer cannot be found at all, like knowing what someone will dream tonight.
MISTAKE: Believing that if something is unknowable now, it will always be unknowable. | CORRECTION: Sometimes, new discoveries or technologies can make something knowable that was previously unknowable (e.g., predicting weather was harder without satellites). However, true unknowability refers to things that remain beyond our grasp.
Practice Questions
Try It Yourself
QUESTION: Is the exact number of stars in the universe knowable? | ANSWER: No, it is unknowable because the universe is constantly expanding, and many stars are too far away or hidden to be counted accurately.
QUESTION: Is it unknowable whether your favourite cricket team will win their next match? Explain why. | ANSWER: No, it is not strictly unknowable, but it is highly uncertain. While many factors (player form, pitch conditions) are known, the outcome depends on human performance and chance, making it unpredictable but not impossible to know after the match.
QUESTION: Your friend claims he knows the exact number of people who will visit the Taj Mahal next year on Diwali. Is this claim about a knowable or unknowable fact? Why? | ANSWER: This claim is about an unknowable fact. While one can estimate based on past data and trends, predicting the exact number is impossible due to unpredictable factors like weather, travel restrictions, sudden events, or individual decisions.
MCQ
Quick Quiz
Which of the following is the best example of something that is unknowable?
The number of rupees in a locked safe.
The exact thoughts of a stranger you just met.
The number of states in India.
The height of Mount Everest.
The Correct Answer Is:
B
The exact thoughts of a stranger are fundamentally unknowable because thoughts are private and cannot be directly observed or measured, even with advanced tools. The other options are difficult but knowable with effort.
Real World Connection
In the Real World
In AI/ML, when building models to predict stock market prices or future weather patterns, data scientists face unknowability. They know their models can only make predictions based on available data, and certain future events (like a sudden global crisis) are inherently unknowable, leading to uncertainty in predictions. This is why financial advisors always say 'past performance is not indicative of future results'.
Key Vocabulary
Key Terms
UNCERTAINTY: The state of being unknown or not definite | LIMITATION: A restriction or boundary to what can be done | PREDICTION: A statement about what will happen in the future | COMPLEXITY: The state of being intricate or difficult to understand | INHERENT: Existing as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute.
What's Next
What to Learn Next
Next, explore the concept of 'Uncertainty'. Understanding unknowability will help you grasp that some things can't be known, while uncertainty deals with things that might be known but aren't definite yet. This will strengthen your critical thinking skills.
