Yes, you raise an important point. Positivism does have its limitations and blind spots, particularly when it comes to questions of how we acquire knowledge in the first place.

While Positivism emphasizes the importance of empirical evidence and observation, it does not address the question of how we acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct such observations and analyze the resulting data. For example, as you mention, we need a certain level of mathematical knowledge to verify theorems used in bridge design. However, this mathematical knowledge is not itself based on empirical observation, but rather on logical and deductive reasoning.

Some Positivists argue that such a priori knowledge is simply a matter of logic and reason, and therefore can be considered part of the empirical process. Others, however, acknowledge that this is a limitation of Positivism and that other philosophical frameworks may be necessary to address questions of how we acquire knowledge in the first place.
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