Races' Ken

[Alex06]

On a barren planet, the Terrans unearth some kind of Xel'Naga temple that has a crystal which acts a prison for some unknown alien creature. (The creature seems to think it's "God" and it is very nihilistic) A scientist and her team (which have no understanding of the device they built) activates the crystal and allows the mind that's within the crystal to connect to the outside world. It takes control of most humans in the complex and kills the rest. Dark Templar arrive on the scene to investigate, and one of them says:
"The Terrans awoke this evil in the first place--An evil so great we felt its vile presence stirring within the void from half a sector away. Their lust for power leads them to meddle in forces beyond their ken. They received only the fate they deserved."

Hope that's enough info. :P

[Pandonetho]

Well really, understanding develops over time. I'm sure given trial and error humans will always manage to improve their ken.

[Alex06]

Well really, understanding develops over time. I'm sure given trial and error humans will always manage to improve their ken.

Yeah, I guess.

It could also be that the Protoss are just making assumptions, perhaps. They are very emotional, compared to Terrans, who can also be very instinctive and emotional, but also very rational. Protoss are born with certain knowledge, I think, because with the amount of emotions they feel, I doubt they'd be able to rationalize naturally and climb up the technology tiers. (This has probably something to do with the Xel'Naga's tampering of the Protoss)

And then there's also evolution that can improve the brain and understanding of sentient creatures.

[Gradius]

Ken is not knowledge. It can't be improved (except with more evolution).

[newcomplex]

I said no becauses "beyond" is too strong a word. The protoss'es ken certainly may be better then the Terran ken but in no way is it "beyond" the terran ken. Their definitely in the same league. I mean, even today, some contradictions in science already defy the human ken. Take quantum physics. While scientists may understand the mechanics to a limited degree, it has become impossible to "visualize" what is actually going on. Visualization simply cannot be applied to quantum physics because vision does not exist on a quantum level. It would require something altogether different from vision. Thus, many protoss concepts such as khala and psionic matrix's would be beyond the human ken.

However, their social structure, and a lot of their culture isn't transient in any way, many of it mirrors human society. While they are a vastly older and more experienced race, their still on a very similar level of ken, with protoss exceeding terran in only some feilds.

On the other hand, I would say that with the xel'naga, beyond would certainly would be appropriate, they are defintely beyond both races ken.