M. Norton Wise VI

Welcome! You are encouraged to register with the site and login (for free). When you register, you support the site and your question history is saved.

     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.

M. Norton Wise most likely chose the example of the calorimeter to elucidate his theory primarily because

Review: M. Norton Wise VI


Explanation

This question gives us another mind-reading exercise, one that, even more than others, might sound at first like it compels us to understand the psychology of M. Norton Wise. We must remind ourselves that, even if we don't know the truth about the psychology of Wise, the answer choices have objective differences. This question is slightly more difficult in that the correct answer is not compelled by the need to avoid contradicting the passage as directly as in other questions. Choices (A) and (B) both have some degree of plausibility, because they describe factors that would aid Wise in the act of explaining. So we can come back to those. Choices (C) and (E) both imply unsupported claims; we have no knowledge that the calorimeter was a turning point in chemistry and physics, or that Kuhn's theory easily can explain the calorimeter. So those two are out. Choice (D) has a certain perfection: it says, in a way, that Wise choose the example of the calorimeter to explain his theory because the calorimeter was a fitting example. We can see that (D) is superior to (A) and (B) through a kind of negation test. Suppose we wanted to contend that the example of the calorimeter did not establish Wise's theory? Choice (D), if negated, would support our contention: the calorimeter, in fact, was not developed by two scientists with differences in view, for whatever reason. Such a fact would damage Wise's explanation and bolster our contention. (A) and (B) have no such material connection to Wise's argument.

The correct answer is (D).


If you believe you have found an error in this question or explanation, please contact us and include the question title or URL in your message.
Continue »