On the train from Scotland

Peace and blessings, Rabbi.
To be brief – one scholar gave me a hard time regarding the proof from epistemology, which states that as long as a correspondence between cognition and reality is not assumed, it is not valid (since it is not possible to know God).
If you have already assumed the compatibility, you can accept the explanation and its formation from evolution (for the sake of the matter, there is no need to go into whether natural selection creates compatibility between cognition and the world, an argument that does not hold water).
 
My question is, why does the recognition of correspondence (and consequently, the recognition of G-d) precede the recognition itself? After all, it is impossible to recognize the “correspondence” between recognition and reality without recognition itself.
 
If the question spills over into theoretical areas, I would be happy if you would direct me to them.
An idea for an answer that came to me is the difference between thinking and cognition that you explained in two carts and a hot air balloon, but I’m still not really clear on the matter.
 
Thank you very much, Your Honor.