Student 42

An object I have selected that best represents this question is this book about the elements of the periodic table called “The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe” by Theodore Gray which I got when I was in sixth grade. I selected this object for a number of reasons that ties into my curiosity, as well as the natural world. To begin, this book shows how some things are unknowable, mainly relating to science. There’s a difference between some things being ‘unknowable’ and some things being ‘undiscovered,’ but I think science can accurately describe both. This particular book was selected for its contents: the elements. The majority of elements have been discovered, but the periodic table is a living thing that updates with new information. The latest element, Oganesson, was discovered in 2006, showing that it is incomplete and being added too. However, at this point in time, if there are elements that remain undiscovered it is possible they will simply remain that way, either for forever or for a long time. To a chemist in this life, all the elements can be unknowable, because they are not currently discovered and may not be discovered within their lifespan. That is how this question is answered: some things are unknowable to us. We will never be there for their discovery, and some things simply can’t be discovered, like many mysteries of the ocean and space. This book and question tie back to me in a simple way: I am curious. It’s why I bought this book in the first place, but there is a lot of information locked away from me due to who I am. This could be things not discovered, but it could also be things such as classified information. No matter how much I explore or look for solutions, there are things that will be unknown.

The object selected that directly represents this question is my confirmation card: a card written for me by my parents to celebrate me becoming confirmed within the episcopal church. I was confirmed in 2017, and it was the first time I’d officially announced myself as a follower of Jesus. However, in this world there exist many different religions, each with their own followers and their own ways of life. The reason my confirmation card answers this question is simple: it is truly unknown what God lays out there, if one at all, as well as what happens after death. Religion is a topic widely discussed, and many people of different faiths seem to have their own evidence and proof that back up their claims. I would point out the credibility of the Bible, and other people may point out how there’s no real proof to back up any religion. While there is evidence suggesting that these religious figures did exist (Buddah was very much a real person, and evidence shows that Jesus did walk this earth millenniums ago), there is no one alive who can truly say they have all the answers, or that they know what happens when we die. While I personally believe there is an afterlife in heaven (with my beliefs shown by my confirmation), I can’t confirm this until I die. That is exactly why some things are unknowable. There is no solid answer to the creation of the world and the afterlife: it is all just speculation and theories. The confirmation card is a physical object that represents my belief, but there is truly no tangible proof about religion. No matter what we do as humans, this knowledge will be unobtainable, and it truly answers the question with a firm ‘yes’ to some things being unknowable.

An object I have chosen to represent the answer to this question are my pair of track spikes: the shoes I put on while hurdling, running, and jumping. To me, they answer this question the best as they represent the one thing that is truly unknowable to all: the future. The connection appears unclear at first, but it begins to make sense due to the fact track is my future, and yet I have no way of knowing what comes next. I plan to run track in college, but there are many questions surrounding this and the future. Where will I go to school? How long will I continue running for? The answers to all of these questions are unknowable; which in turn answers the main question. I, nor anyone else in this world, know how their futures will go. Additionally, the track spikes represent the uncertainty and accidents that can happen; unavoidable things that are impossible to see coming. Specifically with track, people can injure themselves while training and competing. For example, one of my former teammates was running the 100m dash in a race when she tripped at the end and broke her ankle. Her season was over, and it took a full year to get back into the sport. Unexpected, bad things can happen. Someone can get into a car crash, someone else may get hurt. The fact of the matter is all of it is unknown. There is no possible way for an average person to determine what the future holds. Some things are unknowable. It’s impossible to know what someone could say to you one day, what may happen at school or at an office, or even what could happen during one of my track races. We may have good ideas (I believe I will be going to college for track), but it is unknowable if that will actually happen.