Three questions science and philosophy will likely never answer

Three major scientific mysteries—the origins of the universe, life, and consciousness—likely can never be solved because they share a fundamental limit to human knowledge. These questions transcend empirical and rational methods. The problem is introduced through a philosophical metaphor, the "empty room argument," and then examined in the contexts of big bang cosmology, abiogenesis, and consciousness science.

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Abstract

Science has made great strides in answering many questions, but there are three major mysteries that most likely can never be solved. Despite belonging to different branches of science physics, biology, and neurosciencethey share the same problem that sets a fundamental limit to the very nature of human knowledge. These are fundamental inquiries into the origins of the universe, life, and consciousness that transcend empirical and rational methods in the search for definitive answers. Here, this problem is initially represented by a philosophical metaphor, the "empty room argument", which is then outlined in the context of big bang cosmology, abiogenesis, and consciousness science.