I don’t think anyone is saying that, but in pondering this issue, I remembered how in Spanish there are two verbs for “to know”, “saber” and “conocer”. That latter verb is often explained in English as “to be familiar with”. The usage makes the point best: you can “conocer” a person but cannot “saber” them. That is, you can be acquainted with someone but you cannot truly “know” them, no matter how close you are to them.
Think about it: how well do you know yourself? You live in your own head and yet you are probably surprised by some of your own reactions, or dismayed by your actions, or fearful of certain emotions. If you do not fully understand yourself then what does understanding nature even mean? I cannot inhabit the mind of my wife, let alone inhabit a photon.
I don’t think anyone is saying that, but in pondering this issue, I remembered how in Spanish there are two verbs for “to know”, “saber” and “conocer”. That latter verb is often explained in English as “to be familiar with”. The usage makes the point best: you can “conocer” a person but cannot “saber” them. That is, you can be acquainted with someone but you cannot truly “know” them, no matter how close you are to them.
Think about it: how well do you know yourself? You live in your own head and yet you are probably surprised by some of your own reactions, or dismayed by your actions, or fearful of certain emotions. If you do not fully understand yourself then what does understanding nature even mean? I cannot inhabit the mind of my wife, let alone inhabit a photon.