M. Norton Wise VIII

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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.

Which of the following statements about Wise's theory of technology in society can be inferred from information in the passage?

Review: M. Norton Wise VIII


Explanation

This question asks us for an inference, so the correct answer will be required logically by the passage, whether or not it is directly stated. We can evaluate individually whether each statement is required; if necessary, we can try negating it and seeing whether a contradiction with the passage is generated in doing so.

Choice (A) is hardly required by the passage; we never hear anything about the reasons for which Wise developed his theory, and we can image other reasons behind the theory without generating the slightest contradiction. (A) is out.

Choice (B) makes a claim that is more in line with Wise's theory and which has a whiff of plausibility, and/but which ventures into new territory--namely, what should be "explained to the public." Is this implied by the passage? The passage, in fact, grants that Kuhn's theory is better understood, and never makes the claim that the public misunderstands technology for this reason. So we can negate the claim in (B) without generating any inconsistency with the passage. (B) is out.

Choice (C) makes a claim that is irrelevant to the example of the calorimeter, but which is supported by the more general statements about technology in the passage. For example, "According to Wise's theory...technologies act as cultural mediators, reconciling differences among different fields of thought and study" (line 10-12). Note that the differences are not among individuals in this summary statement, but rather among fields. The passage permits, and appears to require, that different fields will have their differences even when the inventors of a particular technology are themselves of one mind. Choice (C), therefore, will be the correct answer, though we will review choices (D) and (E).

Choice (D) makes a fairly ambitious and unsupported claim. We know essentially nothing about what Wise thinks of practical applications of the technologies mentioned in the passage--the calorimeter, the television, and the fiberoptic cable. The claim is unsupported and probably implausible. Furthermore, we can negate this statement and generate no contradiction with Wise's theory or with the passage. So (D) is out.

Choice (E) claims that Wise's theory is not universally true of technologies. In a sense, (E) is the opposite of (C), and (E) directly contradicts the statement of lines 10-12 discussed in the context of choice (C). So, far from being necessarily true based on the passage, it is necessarily false, given the passage. So (E) is out.

The correct answer is (C). Passage 24










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