Question
Download Solution PDFComprehension
Read the following passage and answer the questions.
Galileo did not excel in the skill of preparing or reconstructing star-charts. However, he focused his binoculars towards the skies and offered a natural explanation of what could be seen. This is what made his astronomy revolutionary. The result was that man disappeared from the moon and was replaced by mountains. However, eventually his astronomy became dangerous, because it shook the premises about the world which were so taken for granted by the powerful classes and the church which served them. This could potentially challenge the entire social structure. Any person who dared to do this, had to accept the risk therein.
Science is not just a collection of experimental information. Any given experiment is not considered as great, unless it offers a conclusive solution to a controversial theory. Similarly, unless it offers a plausible explanation to perplexing experimental data; or it helps predict the conclusions of an experiment which has not yet been done, the said theory is not considered as a great leap forward. If one wishes to see the tight- knit interrelationships between science and production; between the ascendance of new capitalism and the era of local discoveries, one has to study the trajectories along which the center of science in Europe has shifted. Leeuwenhoek, a gatekeeper in Delft, sharpened the lens he was using and created the first good microscope out of it. He used it to observe droplets of water and the small microbes therein. The Royal Society of London sent its secretary to meet Leeuwenhoek, and published his research articles. This very society had earlier published Ready's writings against the school of 'Arbitrary Creation', which eventually helped to solve the very real problem of food-stock. The idea of giving the credit of an invention to its first author is a comparatively new idea. Even Newton was averse to the idea of bringing his inventions into the limelight. The tendency of hiding valuable secrets in the form of monopoly is even more deep rooted as one travels back in the past. The process changes because of the social nature of production, however, the tools of production are privately owned and hence, patents, guilds and monopoly are insisted upon at the level of technique and production.
When is a theory considered as very important, according to the author?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFThe Correct answer is Option 3.
Key Points
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The passage clearly explains that science is not just about collecting data — a theory becomes significant only when it meets certain key criteria.
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It mentions that a theory is considered great if it "offers a plausible explanation to perplexing experimental data," among other points like predicting outcomes or resolving controversy.
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This emphasis on clarifying confusing or unexplained observations is central to scientific advancement, as it provides a deeper understanding of complex phenomena.
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Option 1 is incorrect because data is a crucial part of scientific theory, not its absence.
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Option 2 is misleading — changing the center of science may be an effect but not a criterion of importance.
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Option 4 is incorrect because being accepted by a society like the Royal Society doesn’t alone determine the value of a theory.
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Hence the Correct answer is Option 3.
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