Lecture: Given our current state of knowledge and technology, we can

Question

Lecture: Given our current state of knowledge and technology, we can say that the generalization that the entropy of a closed system cannot decrease for any spontaneous process has not been falsified by any of our tests of that generalization. So we conclude it to be true universally. Yet, it must be admitted that this generalization has not been conclusively verified, in the sense that it has not been tested in every corner of the universe, under every feasible condition. Nevertheless, this generalization is correctly regarded as a scientific law; indeed, it is referred to as the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most justifies the lecturer’s classification of the generalization described above?

(A) Whatever is a scientific law has not been falsified.

(B) If a generalization is confirmed only under a few circumstances, it should not be considered a scientific law.

(C) Whatever is true universally will eventually be confirmed to the extent current science allows.

(D) If a generalization is confirmed to the extent current science allows, then it is considered a scientific law.

(E) Whatever is regarded as a scientific law will eventually be conclusively verified.

GDT · Answer

Lecture: Given our current state of knowledge and technology, we can say that the generalization that the entropy of a closed system cannot decrease for any spontaneous process has not been falsified by any of our tests of that generalization. So we conclude it to be true universally. Yet, it must be admitted that this generalization has not been conclusively verified, in the sense that it has not been tested in every corner of the universe, under every feasible condition. Nevertheless, this generalization is correctly regarded as a scientific law; indeed, it is referred to as the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most justifies the lecturer’s classification of the generalization described above?
 
The excerpt says that there is one generalization which has not been proven wrong as yet. It further tells us that it has not been tested in all feasible conditions but still we can say it has been correctly regarded as a scientific law

Now the answer should be something which tells us why despite not being tested in all conditions we are saying that classification is correct
 
(A) Whatever is a scientific law has not been falsified.  Incorrect. Doesn't address why It is correct despite not being checked under varied conditions

(B) If a generalization is confirmed only under a few circumstances, it should not be considered a scientific law.  Incorrect. suggests Opposite

(C) Whatever is true universally will eventually be confirmed to the extent current science allows.  Incorrect. Because even though currently available tech may be possible to verify, according to the passage we haven't performed it under different conditions

(D) If a generalization is confirmed to the extent current science allows, then it is considered a scientific law.  Incorrect. We can't assume that generalization hasn't been tested under different conditions because currently available tech is insufficient for proving so

(E) Whatever is regarded as a scientific law will eventually be conclusively verified.   Correct. Seems to be the best fit

ksht · Answer

Summary of Argument: 
With our current knowledge, we have verified X. Although X is not tested in every feasible condition, X is a universal law 
(A) Whatever is a scientific law has not been falsified. -  doesn't justify argument

(B) If a generalization is confirmed only under a few circumstances, it should not be considered a scientific law. -  contrary to argument

(C) Whatever is true universally will eventually be confirmed to the extent current science allows. -  may be but who knows when and that is why science exists - to find the truths about universe

(D) If a generalization is confirmed to the extent current science allows, then it is considered a scientific law.
 
(E) Whatever is regarded as a scientific law will eventually be conclusively verified. -  its not true, science is always conducted under many assumptions and to perform science without any assumption means we have complete knowledge, then do we even need science then?

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Err... Wow... talk about some weird, hard to read English. Basically what this passage boils down to, I daresay, is that nothing can be proved beyond all doubt, because it is impossible to test something under every possible condition imaginable. Therefore, anything that is scientific law is something we can currently test for and prove to the best of our ability.

Lecture: Given our current state of knowledge and technology, we can say that the generalization that the entropy of a closed system cannot decrease for any spontaneous process has not been falsified by any of our tests of that generalization. So we conclude it to be true universally. Yet, it must be admitted that this generalization has not been conclusively verified, in the sense that it has not been tested in every corner of the universe, under every feasible condition. Nevertheless, this generalization is correctly regarded as a scientific law; indeed, it is referred to as the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most justifies the lecturer’s classification of the generalization described above?

(A) Whatever is a scientific law has not been falsified.
Nope. That would mean that anything you can imagine but someone else can't disprove becomes scientific law.

(B) If a generalization is confirmed only under a few circumstances, it should not be considered a scientific law.
Does this justify the lecture's classification? Nope. Few circumstances? Does that fill one with confidence in something? Sigh, this is a close answer choice since it doesn't go contrary to the lecturer, I daresay, but it doesn't really have the force of justification that (D) does.

(C) Whatever is true universally will eventually be confirmed to the extent current science allows.
Not relevant to what we are currently talking about.

(D) If a generalization is confirmed to the extent current science allows, then it is considered a scientific law.
Yep, and it kind of fits with what I'm sure a lot of you already know. There have been theories before which we thought of as true before some current science disproved it. That still means that, for the duration they seemed to be right, they were considered scientific law.

(E) Whatever is regarded as a scientific law will eventually be conclusively verified.
Kind of back to front, since it means whatever we regard, even mistakenly, will be verified. Not relevant to the lecture's view on the matter, I daresay, in any event.

Some Kudos would be nice

peace31 · Answer

The passage clearly mentioned that the generalization is said to be true just because it has not been falsified yet. Also it mentioned that the generalization has NOT been tested under every FEASIBLE condition.

Then how come the answer D is correct? The generalization is clearly not tested and confirmed to the extent current science allows (feasible conditions).

(D) If a generalization is confirmed to the extent current science allows, then it is considered a scientific law.

D4498 · Answer

Can someone explain me why not C AS THE ans ?confused between c and d.

Posted from my mobile device

anshumandash99 · Answer

The classification in question is the designation of the generalization about a closed system’s entropy as a law, the Second Law of Thermodynamics in fact. Current science, says the dense first sentence,
does not disprove the generalization, “so” we give it universal credence even though (“yet”) one cannot.
say that it’s been universally tested. “Nevertheless,” it’s law. The upshot must be that a scientific generalization can become a law even if it’s not 100% conclusively proved, and only (D) echoes that idea. (D)
also picks up on the notion that “our current state of knowledge” buys into the law and that, the author.
suggests, should be adequate.
(A) gets the relationship reversed, and would be closer to correct (and would turn into (D), in
fact) if it switched its terms. Since (B) calls for comprehensive testing before a generalization can be
deemed law, it of course counters rather than supports the stimulus. (C) and (E) both venture into the forbidden realm of that which will “eventually” happen—forbidden in that this argument deals with the here
and now, not with the future, so neither choice can act as appropriate justification.

unraveled · Answer

Lecture: Given our current state of knowledge and technology, we can say that the generalization that the  entropy of a closed system cannot decrease for any spontaneous process  has not been falsified by any of our tests of that generalization. So we conclude it to be true universally. Yet, it must be admitted that this generalization has not been conclusively verified, in the sense that it has not been tested in every corner of the universe, under every feasible condition. Nevertheless, this generalization is correctly regarded as a scientific law; indeed, it is referred to as the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

Which one of the following principles, if valid, most justifies the lecturer’s classification of the generalization described above?

(A) Whatever is a scientific law has not been falsified. - WRONG. D ----> B is not necessarily true. Additionally, reversing the flow.

(B) If a generalization is  confirmed only  under a few circumstances, it  should not be considered  a scientific law. - WRONG. We don't what confirmation stands for. So, making a claim based on that is out of scope.

(C) Whatever is true universally  will eventually be confirmed  to the extent current science allows. - WRONG. Like B, this suffers similarly. Flow reversed.

(D) If a generalization is confirmed to the extent current science allows, then it is considered a scientific law. - CORRECT. Now confirmation is clear for what it stands for and flow of passage is not broken. A ----> B ----> C ----> D. Though B and C are explicitly mentioned in this option.

(E) Whatever is regarded as a scientific law  will eventually be conclusively verified . - WRONG. Like B and C only. Plus, reversing the flow.
The flow of the passage is as follows:
Generalization(blue text)  ----> generalization not falsified under current state of knowledge and technology  ----> generalization Universally accepted(even though that generalization has not been conclusively verified under every feasible condition)  ----> generalization regarded as a scientific law  ----> generalization is Second Law of Thermodynamics

Answer D.

Lecture: Given our current state of knowledge and technology, we can

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