As we acquire more knowledge, things do not become more comprehensible, but more complex and mysterious.
Knowledge can be defined as facts, information and skills acquired through education and experience. The statement poses a question whether acquisition of knowledge makes things more comprehensible or complex and mysterious? A cerebral pondering on some recent advances in our scientific knowledge would reveal that knowledge yield all the three results at the same time. This paradoxical result of knowledge acquisition can be aptly explained and illustrated by some examples of modern scientific discoveries in the following paragraphs.
Consider, for example, the human knowledge on sonar system used by blind bats to navigate and especially to seek out their prey. Researchers have learnt that this system is startlingly complex. By emitting audible sounds and processing returning echoes, bats in nanosecond can not only locate their moving prey but can also determine its size, speed, direction and even specie. This knowledge acquired, if it qualifies as such, helps us to understand the mechanism through which bats navigate and survive. Yet, it also points out the incredible complexity of auditory and brain functions of certain animals, even of mere humans, and creates a sense of wonder and mystery about how such systems ever evolved mechanically.
Or consider the case of our present knowledge of the universe. Advances in telescopes and space-exploration, on one hand, corroborate the theory of a continually expanding universe that began at the very beginning of time with a ‘big-bang’. This knowledge, on one hand, tells humans about their place in the universe and their ultimate destiny. On the other hand, adds another chapter to the mystery about what existed even before time and the universe.
Another glaring example is the human knowledge on atomic physics. Naked eyes can perceive very little of the complexity of matter. To our distant ancestors the physical world appeared simple – seemingly comprehensible by sight or touch. Then advancement in scientific knowledge revealed that all matter are comprised of atoms, which are further comprised of smaller particles called electrons, protons and neutrons. Then humans discovered that these sub-atomic particles are further made up of a basic unit called quarks. And now recently, a new so-called ‘string’ theory posits the existence of an even more fundamental and universal particle of matter. This shows how each scientific discovery, on one side, rendered the understanding of matter more comprehensible by explaining and reconciling the empirical observations of how matter behaves. In fact, string theory, which is theoretically sound, also reconciles the discrepancies between quantum and wave theories of physics. On the other side, each discovery has in turn revealed that matter is more complex compared to what has been thought previously. The string theory also talks about the existence of seven dimensions – in addition to the three already known - hard-pressing one to imagine anything more complex and mysterious.
In conclusion, the statement overlooks the paradoxical nature of knowledge acquired, at least, when it comes to understanding physical world. When through knowledge a thing more comprehensible and explainable to us, at the same time, we realize that it is complex and mysterious contrary to what have been perceived previously.
Grammar and spelling errors:
Line 9, column 228, Rule ID: EN_A_VS_AN
Message: Use 'an' instead of 'a' if the following word starts with a vowel sound, e.g. 'an article', 'an hour'
Suggestion: an
...egan at the very beginning of time with a 'big-bang'. This knowledge, o...
^
Transition Words or Phrases used:
also, but, if, look, second, so, then, at least, for example, in addition, in conclusion, in fact, on the other hand
Attributes: Values AverageValues Percentages(Values/AverageValues)% => Comments
Performance on Part of Speech:
To be verbs : 12.0 19.5258426966 61% => OK
Auxiliary verbs: 6.0 12.4196629213 48% => OK
Conjunction : 26.0 14.8657303371 175% => OK
Relative clauses : 12.0 11.3162921348 106% => OK
Pronoun: 28.0 33.0505617978 85% => OK
Preposition: 73.0 58.6224719101 125% => OK
Nominalization: 14.0 12.9106741573 108% => OK
Performance on vocabulary words:
No of characters: 2868.0 2235.4752809 128% => OK
No of words: 513.0 442.535393258 116% => OK
Chars per words: 5.59064327485 5.05705443957 111% => OK
Fourth root words length: 4.75914943092 4.55969084622 104% => OK
Word Length SD: 3.14504077443 2.79657885939 112% => OK
Unique words: 275.0 215.323595506 128% => OK
Unique words percentage: 0.536062378168 0.4932671777 109% => OK
syllable_count: 892.8 704.065955056 127% => OK
avg_syllables_per_word: 1.7 1.59117977528 107% => OK
A sentence (or a clause, phrase) starts by:
Pronoun: 6.0 6.24550561798 96% => OK
Article: 6.0 4.99550561798 120% => OK
Subordination: 3.0 3.10617977528 97% => OK
Conjunction: 3.0 1.77640449438 169% => OK
Preposition: 11.0 4.38483146067 251% => Less preposition wanted as sentence beginnings.
Performance on sentences:
How many sentences: 25.0 20.2370786517 124% => OK
Sentence length: 20.0 23.0359550562 87% => OK
Sentence length SD: 43.4179686305 60.3974514979 72% => OK
Chars per sentence: 114.72 118.986275619 96% => OK
Words per sentence: 20.52 23.4991977007 87% => OK
Discourse Markers: 4.64 5.21951772744 89% => OK
Paragraphs: 5.0 4.97078651685 101% => OK
Language errors: 1.0 7.80617977528 13% => OK
Sentences with positive sentiment : 10.0 10.2758426966 97% => OK
Sentences with negative sentiment : 2.0 5.13820224719 39% => More negative sentences wanted.
Sentences with neutral sentiment: 13.0 4.83258426966 269% => Less facts, knowledge or examples wanted.
What are sentences with positive/Negative/neutral sentiment?
Coherence and Cohesion:
Essay topic to essay body coherence: 0.157847951625 0.243740707755 65% => OK
Sentence topic coherence: 0.0442155109235 0.0831039109588 53% => OK
Sentence topic coherence SD: 0.0676939809797 0.0758088955206 89% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence: 0.0836061372878 0.150359130593 56% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence SD: 0.0566074551931 0.0667264976115 85% => OK
Essay readability:
automated_readability_index: 15.2 14.1392134831 108% => OK
flesch_reading_ease: 42.72 48.8420337079 87% => OK
smog_index: 8.8 7.92365168539 111% => OK
flesch_kincaid_grade: 12.3 12.1743820225 101% => OK
coleman_liau_index: 15.14 12.1639044944 124% => OK
dale_chall_readability_score: 9.15 8.38706741573 109% => OK
difficult_words: 147.0 100.480337079 146% => OK
linsear_write_formula: 12.0 11.8971910112 101% => OK
gunning_fog: 10.0 11.2143820225 89% => OK
text_standard: 12.0 11.7820224719 102% => OK
What are above readability scores?
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Rates: 83.33 out of 100
Scores by essay e-grader: 5.0 Out of 6
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Note: the e-grader does NOT examine the meaning of words and ideas. VIP users will receive further evaluations by advanced module of e-grader and human graders.