known to us

[Sakya kim]

In this following context, what does the pronoun ''whose'' refer? Does it refer the word ''instinct''? or the word ''factors''?
And should I take the underlined sentence as ''whose nature is unkown to us for the greater part''?
Or does the word ''unkown'' modify the word ''the greater part''
And what does the phrase ''unknown to us'' mean?

How should I understand this sentence in simple way?

Thanks to All.

Context:
"And: “The term ‘instinct’ is of course nothing but a collective term for all possible organic and psychic factors, whose
nature is for the greater part unknown to us.”"

Source:
P. 14/5
''Fundamentals of Buddhism''
by Nyanatiloka Mahåthera

 

[SoothingDave]

"Whose" refers to "factors." The factors are mostly unknown to us. "For the greater part" means "mostly," as in the overwhelming majority. We know little about the nature of these factors.

What do you think "unknown to us" could mean? What would "known to us" mean?

 

[emsr2d2]

1. In this following context sentence, what does the pronoun "whose" refer to? Does it refer the word "instinct" no question mark here or the word "factors?

2. And Should I take the underlined sentence as to mean "whose nature is unknown to us for the greater part" no question mark here or does the word "unknown" modify the words "the greater part"?

3. And What does the phrase "unknown to us" mean? How should I understand this sentence? in a simple way?

Thanks to all. Unnecessary. Thank us after we help you, by adding the "Thanks" icon to any post you find helpful.

Context:
"And: “The term ‘instinct’ is of course nothing but a collective term for all possible organic and psychic factors, whose nature is for the greater part unknown to us.”"

Source: "Fundamentals of Buddhism" by Nyanatiloka Mahåthera, P. 14/5

Please note my corrections above. You really need to find the key on your keyboard for quotation marks. We don't make them by typing two apostrophes.
If you want to ask more than one question at a time, please number them to make it easier for us to respond.
As a learner, I recommend that you don't try to start sentences with "And" or "Or".

 

[Sakya kim]

"Whose" refers to "factors." The factors are mostly unknown to us. "For the greater part" means "mostly," as in the overwhelming majority. We know little about the nature of these factors.

What do you think "unknown to us" could mean? What would "known to us" mean?

I think ''unkown by us''.

 

[Barque]

Yes.

whose nature is for the greater part unknown to us.”"

More simply, We only know a little about its nature.

 

[emsr2d2]

I think "unknown by us".

Please stop misspelling "unknown". That's four times now! You still haven't found the correct key for quotation marks.

Yes, you've got the meaning correct but bear in mind that "known to me/us/you" is more common and natural than "known by me/us/you"

 

[Rover_KE]

You really need to find the key on your keyboard for quotation marks. We don't make them by typing two apostrophes.

Alternatively, Saky kim, you could save yourself a lot of time and trouble by using single quotation marks, like most British publishers and many BE writers do – like 'this'.