In our quest for knowledge and understanding, we encounter the Latin phrase “Ignoramus et ignorabimus,” which translates to “We do not know, and we will not know.” Coined by Emil du Bois-Reymond, a German physiologist, in the 19th century, this phrase expresses a skeptical viewpoint that suggests certain things are inherently unknowable or beyond the limits of human comprehension. While it is essential to recognize the boundaries of our understanding, we must also embrace the potential for growth and discovery. It is vain to rely on human understanding, but blessed is that person that can wait upon the Lord for insights and wisdom.
In Proverbs 25:2, we learn that it is the glory of God to conceal things, while it is the glory of kings to search them out. This verse emphasizes the existence of hidden knowledge and the virtue of seeking understanding. Du Bois-Reymond used “Ignoramus et ignorabimus” in the context of scientific knowledge’s limitations, acknowledging that some fundamental questions about existence, consciousness, and the universe may forever remain elusive to scientific inquiry. He is not wrong. No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it. It will take something higher than the physical and the mental to unlock greater knowledge and understanding.
You need to tap into something greater than the human mind. You need to align with the Holy Spirit and gain access to superior wisdom. Beyond our current capabilities, there is a realm of knowledge and understanding waiting to be explored. The spiritual logic is straightforward. God is all-knowing (Omniscience), and the Holy Spirit knows everything that God knows. As a result, you can see that you can gain access if you fellowship with God in spirit and truth. This is the gist of Apostle Paul’s writings in 1 Corinthians 2: 9-16. Ignoramus et ignorabimus is a foolish statement. We can know, and one day, we will.