Q7 - Newtonian Physics

[LSAT on Brain]

I picked A and the correct answer is B. I assume I was wrong because A talks about "the history of physics" and the passage does not suggest that Eisenstein and Newton are the whole of the history of physics.

I would like to double check?

[nbayar1212]

Well the passage is about the history of physics, in a sense (or at least an event that has happened in its history).

But really A is wrong because it makes too strong of a claim based on very limited information on only one instance i.e. it says "characterized by A PATTERN of one successful theory subsequently surpassing another."

We certainly don't have enough information to say this is a pattern of any kind. Only that there has been an instance of a highly substantiated theory being surpassed by another theory i.e. Newton's theory by Einstein's theory, best expressed in answer choice B.

hope that helps.

[pa.perezelias]

I also picked A but then I tried to explain it to myself with this reasoning:

Not only is one fraction of the history not evidence of a pattern. But also, Einstein's dethroned Newtonian's physics because it found limitations in it. It's not that one successful theory is surpassed by another successful theory (eliminates A and E). It's more like one successful theory is surpassed by a better one. What B has that is better than C is that C includes the word 'Every' which is too strong. And then D is eliminated because it might well be true but it does not explain or lead us to believe that it might be surpassed eventually.

[ohthatpatrick]

High time we had a complete explanation up here.

Question type: Inference
keywords: from statements above, which follows logically?

Reading Task:
Peruse the facts. Be on the lookout for ways to combine claims (usually via Conditional, Causal, Contrast, or Quantitative language). But don't force it if it's not there.

Analysis of the info:
The clue-word here would be "nevertheless", suggesting that the Inference will come from straddling the contrasting claims.

Example:
Helen is a mean teacher. Nevertheless, she gives her students candy.

Possible Inference:
Giving students candy is not incompatible with being a mean teacher.

ANSWER CHOICES
(the cheat code for easier Inference questions is simply to avoid strong claims. The safer a claim is, the easier it is to prove)


(A) The HISTORY of X is CHARACTERIZED by Y
Wowsers. I thought we just read about Newton and Einstein. How do we know what has been typical throughout the history of science.

(B) Having X is no guarantee of Y
Crazy weak claim. All you need to prove that claim is ONE example in which you have X but do NOT have Y.
Do we have one example of something that had "long-standing success/substantiation in physics" but did NOT "continue to be dominant indefinitely"?

Yes, Newtonian physics. It was SURPASSED by Einstein's physics, thus it did not continue to dominate indefinitely.

And notice that this answer just straddles the Contrast made by 'nevertheless'.

(C) Every X will always be Y
Crazy extreme. We only had info about two theories. Can't extrapolate some permanent rule.

(D) If a theory is accepted, then it's certain to be dominant for centuries?
Conditional claims are always extreme because they imply certainty. Einstein's theory may only last a century. Who knows? And who knows about any other accepted theory?

(E) Again a conditional rule.
We were just told about two theories and were given no language that allows us to extrapolate to any other situation.

Hope this helps