warriorguy wrote:
Whereas pure science is mainly concerned with the discovery of new truths and makes few, if any, attempts to discern the best options among their potential uses, applied science involves the application of existing truths to concrete problems.
If we remove the fluff, then the sentence depicts actual contrast
Whereas pure science is mainly concerned with the discovery of new truths and makes few, applied science involves the application of existing truths to concrete problems.
Pure Science --> Discovery of new truths.
Applied Science --> Application of existing truths.
Now the phrase --> attempts to discern the best options among their potential uses
Keeping the crux of the sentence, what is this phrase trying to achieve? Who attempts to discern something? What is this part trying to convey?
Also, given the structure of the sentence, is this acting as a non-restrictive clause? If yes, (going by the explanation), it provides information about new truths, then --> and makes few , if any, --> makes it confusing.
Please explain.
Hi warriorguy,
I see where the problem is. What has happened is that you have taken away a very key section of the sentence in your attempt to get rid of the fluff. Essentially, this what you have done:
Whereas pure science is mainly concerned with the discovery of new truths and makes few,
if any, attempts to discern the best options among their potential uses , applied science involves the application of existing truths to concrete problems
However, in order for you to get a logical meaning from the sentence, you need to break it at relevant points and then decide the actual fluff in it.
So, here's what you should arrive at:
Whereas
pure science is mainly concerned with the discovery of new truths
and makes few, if any,attempts to discern the best options among their potential uses
,
applied science involves the application of existing truths to concrete problems
When you look at the above break-up, you will realize that
makes is the second verb in the list for the subject
pure science . And the only fluff that you canpossibly get rid of is the disclaimer "if any". Once you do so, you will understand the whole meaning conveyed by the sentence properly.
Do let me know if you stuck somewhere.
Cheers!