M. Norton Wise IV

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     M. Norton Wise's examination of the calorimeter, a machine invented in the 1780s to measure heat, elucidates his theory of a role that technology plays in society outside of the applications for which it has been developed.
     In the schema given to us by Thomas Kuhn, as popularly understood, cultural differences are mediated through the paradigms that underlie theories--the theories' interconnected assumptions. According to Wise's theory, however, technologies act as cultural mediators, reconciling differences among different fields of thought and study, such as chemistry, political economy, and mathematics, and also connecting ideas with realities. When Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier and Pierre-Simon de Laplace first invented the calorimeter, they thought of it in comparison to a simple physical device, the balance scale: the calorimeter balanced quantities of heat against quantities of melted ice. In fact, Lavoisier and Laplace conceived of the device somewhat differently, and in this respect the calorimeter performed mediation of the first kind. Lavoisier, who is remembered as a chemist, viewed the calorimeter as measuring a balance between chemical substances, whereas Laplace, who is remembered as a mathematician and physical astronomer, viewed the calorimeter as balancing forces.
     The differing interests of Lavoisier and Laplace (who tried at least once to rid himself of the partnership in order to work on pure mathematics) caused tension. This tension between the otherwise distinct fields of chemistry and physical astronomy was resolved, in part, by the calorimeter itself; it provided a common ground to the two fields in its own concrete existence and quantitative measure, if not entirely in concept. Secondly, the calorimeter, in providing commonly accepted measurements, gave commonly accepted meanings to the ideas involved in interpreting those measurements: caloric fluid and the physical force of heat.
     We are typically more inclined to view a new technological invention in the terms of Kuhn--it supports an existing paradigm, or, rarely, massively disrupts it and causes a paradigm shift. Wise would agree with Kuhn that our conception of the electron is reinforced by the television and the fiberoptic cable, but while Kuhn sees the theoretical relationship as one of champion against challenger, arbitrated through defeat and continued reigning victory, technologies per Wise arbitrate by harmonizing.

According to Wise's theory, if Lavoisier and Laplace had hypothetically cooperated to create another new technology after the calorimeter, that invention would most likely have

Review: M. Norton Wise IV


Explanation

This question might sound like it is challenging our creativity, intuition, or psychological savvy, but no GMAT question will do such a thing. Rather, it is asking us to draw an inference: what prediction about the next invention of these two men is best supported by the statements in the passage?

Whenever you are asked to choose a valid inference, there is a world of possibilities, because many inferences are possible, but one trick works well: you can start with a modest but undeniable inference. This inference itself might be the answer, and if it isn't, it gives you a solid frame of reference by which to judge other inferences. For example, in this case, Wise's theory makes some claims about any technological invention, so these claims should also apply to L&L's next invention. Namely, L&L's next invention will be a cultural mediator, just as the calorimeter was. That fact alone might get us through the answer choices. Indeed, (A) fits our expectation perfectly by paraphrasing the concept of mediation. And if (A) weren't true, we would have a contradiction with the passage. Choices (B) through (D) have some plausibility but are unsupported by the passage. Choice (E) mangles ideas by articulating Wise's theory using the term "paradigm shift," which belongs to Kuhn's theory and inherently contradicts Wise's theory.

The correct answer is (A).


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