Full Idea
The inner nature of objects, or the origin and purpose of all phenomena, are the most insoluble questions.
Gist of Idea
We can never know origins, purposes or inner natures
Source
Auguste Comte (Intro to Positive Philosophy [1830], Ch.1)
Book Reference
Comte,Auguste: 'Introduction to Positive Philosophy', ed/tr. Ferré,Frederick [Hackett 1988], p.5
A Reaction
I take it that this Humean pessimism about science ever penetrating below the surface is precisely what is challenged by modern science, and that 'scientific essentialism' is catching up with what has happened. 'Inner' is knowable, bottom level isn't.