Regarding metaphysical inquiries, most of the time we can’t reach the truth. But sometimes we can take steps toward concluding what cannot be the case. This is so-called apophatic knowledge.
You can draw conclusions through negative knowledge, e.g. that the universe was not created by an elephant or the number 43, either through reasoning or simple intuition. On the other hand, it is not easy to draw conclusions through positive knowledge that the root of existence is:
- “nothing”
- “god”
- “the first unmoved mover”
Investigations into negative/apophatic knowledge need to be handled carefully too, because the most fundamental truths seem to resolve into paradoxes and antinomies with our current tools and understanding.