Epistemic Limits and the Manufactured Subject: A Theoretical Investigation into the Hidden Structures Preceding and Shaping Knowledge

This dissertation explores the concept of epistemic limits as foundational structures that precede and shape human knowledge production. Drawing on philosophy of science, cognitive psychology, sociology of knowledge, and history of science, I argue that knowledge is not merely discovered but manufactured through pre-existing cognitive, linguistic, cultural, and methodological frameworks. The central thesis posits that what we call "knowledge" emerges from the interaction between reality and epistemic boundaries that filter, organize, and constrain understanding. Through historical analysis of major scientific revolutions—from Copernican heliocentrism to quantum mechanics—I demonstrate how epistemic limits operate as productive mechanisms rather than mere barriers. The study introduces the notion of the "manufactured subject," suggesting that human beings as epistemic agents are constituted within specific knowledge regimes rather than standing as neutral observers outside them. This work contributes to epistemology, science studies, and critical theory by developing a meta-cognitive framework for understanding the conditions of possibility for knowledge itself. The implications extend to scientific practice, education, and questions of epistemic justice. Ultimately, I argue for epistemic humility and pluralism while avoiding radical relativism through carefully articulated evaluative criteria