The animals in the fossil record, could we say they were able to perceive their environment? The creatures studying the fossil record, can we say they are conscious and intelligent enough to understand their research? ... Are we so certain that our perception level is as far as it will ever rise?... If there are Angels, we certainly don't perceive them on a regular basis, but that doesn't preclude their existence, it just defines the limits of our perception abilities.
"Are we so certain that our perception level is as far as it will ever rise?"
Interesting thought...and I would say that our perception level is never truly fixed, however, there seems to be certain boundaries beyond which it cannot pass, due to our physical limitations more so than anything. For instance, can you, where you may be at this point it time, tell me what's going on in the very core of the earth? I don't want a scientific explaination, I want to know if you, yourself, can perceive it RIGHT NOW? Most likely you aren't able to clearly see, touch or otherwise investigate the goings-on in the center of the earth. Hence, our perceptions are limited by things as simple as distance, physcial barriers, and other assorted barriers.