It is an historical fact that only in conditions of profound

Question

It is an historical fact that only in conditions of profound societal instability are great works of literature produced. During the first century B.C., Rome experienced almost constant civil war accompanied by social upheaval. It wasn't until the ascension of Nerva to the throne in 96 A.D. that the situation stabilized. Throughout the second century A.D., Rome experienced a century of uninterrupted peace and stability.

If all of the statements in the passage are true, then which of the following must also be true?

If all of the statements in the passage are true, then which of the following must also be true?

a. During the first century B.C., great works of literature were produced in Rome. 
 b. Roman art of the first century B.C. was superior to Roman art of the second century A.D. 
 c. During the second century A.D., no great works of literature were produced in Rome. 
 d. Historically, great works of literature can stir emotions that find their expression in political action. 
 e. The first century A.D. was a time of decreased literary production in Rome.

IanStewart · Accepted Answer

This question is about what are called necessary and sufficient conditions. We learn in the question that "great works of literature are *only* produced in unstable times". That is, "unstable times" are needed in order for great literature to be written. So if we don't have unstable times, we don't have great literature, and C is correct.

A is not correct. Nowhere does it say that "unstable times" *guarantee* that great literature will be produced. All we know is that without them, there is no chance of having any great literature. But with them, we might, or we might not. In technical terms, "unstable times" are a "necessary condition" for great literature, but are not a "sufficient condition" (they don't guarantee anything).

A much more obvious example of the same principle - suppose a question says:

The only way you can win the lottery is to buy a lottery ticket. If this statement is true, what must be true?
A. If you buy a lottery ticket, you will win the lottery.
B. ...
C. If you don't buy a lottery ticket, you won't win the lottery.
 .

Clearly A is wrong, and C is correct - buying the ticket is necessary to win, but it guarantees nothing. This is just a simplified version of the question in your post (I've just replaced "during unstable times" with "buy a lottery ticket" and "great works of literature are produced" with "win the lottery").

vivesomnium · Answer

a. During the first century B.C., great works of literature were produced in Rome.  Not really "MUST" be true - the argument says that great works are produced ONLY in times of instability. But it does NOT say that in ALL times of instability great works are produced.  
b. Roman art of the first century B.C. was superior to Roman art of the second century A.D. :  Why generalise to art in the first place? literature is the only art being talked of here. secondly, we dont know whether any works of art were produced in the 1st or the second century!  
c. During the second century A.D., no great works of literature were produced in Rome.  If only in instability can great works be produced, and second century didnt have instability - then it didnt have the absolutely indispensable ingredient (instability) and hence no works must have got produced - how could they without instability?  
d. Historically, great works of literature can stir emotions that find their expression in political action.  Well that could be one of the many possible reasons of the correlation betwenn great works and instability - an interesting aside, but not a must be true option!  
e. The first century A.D. was a time of decreased literary production in Rome. We dont know that, we cant even comment with certainty about great works (though it seems there should have been some!)..to talk of literary production overall is entirely out of scope of this argument!

hellishbrain · Answer

profound societal instability is the necessary condition for great works of literature. 
a)first century B.C. satisfies the condition hence IMO A.
b) we do not know anything about comparative superiority.
We do not know anything about when "no great works of literature were produced" (C)
and "decreased literary production in Rome" (E). What we know is just when great works can be produced and not when they cannot be produced.
D is irrelevant

papillon86 · Answer

IMO the correct answer should be C.

Explanation:

If all of the statements in the passage are true, then which of the following must also be true?

a. During the first century B.C., great works of literature were produced in Rome. 
 No where in the question stem has it been mentioned that during all unstable times great work in literature has to be produced. The fact is that great works are produced during unstable times but doesn't have to happen compulsarily.Hence, can't be assumed.

b. Roman art of the first century B.C. was superior to Roman art of the second century A.D. 
 Nowhere is the comparison of arts mentioned. Don't assume and don't draw interpretations.

c. During the second century A.D., no great works of literature were produced in Rome.
 A ==> B ==> C hence A==>C....quite clear

d. Historically, great works of literature can stir emotions that find their expression in political action.  
 Again interpretations are drawn and new entity is being discussed 'politics'

e. The first century A.D. was a time of decreased literary production in Rome. 
 This negates the fact. Hence, this is not logically correct anyways.

fluke · Answer

"Only in great instability are great works of literature produced."

If there is a great work of Lit, it must have been produced during extreme instability.

Reverse may not be true;
If there is great instability, then great works must be created.

If Rome experienced profound instability during all odd centuries, 1st century, 3rd century, 5th, 7th, 9th...
And it was prosperous and stable during even centuries: 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th...

There are two 2 great epics/works. These two epics must have been produced during odd centuries. Maybe 5th and 7th. But, there is no guarantee that whenever there was instability, great artwork was created, OR we'd have had at least 10 works till date.

Also when it is said that the great artwork is created ONLY during bad periods, it is equivalent to saying great artwork is NEVER created during good periods. And we know 2nd century was a period of stability for Rome.

Ans: "C"

RivaM · Answer

If P only then Q is possible => If Not P then Not Q which is (C), answer

A) is if P then Q as a rule which isnt so.

nphelan · Answer

I thought it was A at first too, but the first statement was ONLY in times of instability. A assumes that in ALL times of instability, where as C states that in times of peace, good literature cannot take place. which agrees with that first statement.

ONLY vs ALL would have changed this question entirely, hope this helps

ONLY vs ALL would have changed this question entirely, hope this helps

fluke · Answer