Let us take the terms subjective and objective and see if we can m

Question

Let us take the terms “subjective” and “objective” and see if we can make up our minds what we mean by them in a statement like this: “Philosophers and artists are subjective; scientists, objective.” First, the two terms make up a semantic pair. The one has no meaning without the other. We may define each by antonym with the other. We may define them by synonym by translating the last syllable and say that “subjective” pertains to a subject, and “objective” pertains to an object. By operation analysis we may say that subjects perceive or conceive objects in the process of knowing. The word “knowing” reminds us that we are talking about the central nervous system and should waste no time in examining our terms for their sensory, affective, and logical components. The terms are primarily logical. What, then, is the basic logical relation that establishes whatever meaning they have? What goes on in the world when a poet is being subjective, and how does it differ from what goes on when a scientist is being objective?

When the poet sings “ Drink to me only with thine eyes ,” he is responding immediately or in retrospect to an object, his beloved, outside himself; but he is fundamentally concerned with the sensations and emotions which that object stimulates in him; and whether the object justifies his praise in the opinion of others, or indeed whether there actually is such an object, is quite irrelevant to his purpose, which is the weaving of a beautiful pattern of sound and imagery into a richly affective concept of feminine loveliness. This is to be subjective.

Now the scientist is primarily concerned with the identity and continuity of the external object that stimulates his response. It need not seem absurd to locate the Eiffel Tower, or Everest, or the Grand Canyon, for that matter, in the mind because it is so perfectly obvious that they can exist as the Eiffel Tower, Everest, or the Grand Canyon nowhere else. Perhaps we can move a little closer to our definition of “objective” by suggesting a distinction between an object and thing. Let us define object as the external cause of a thing. Whether objects “exist” is obviously not discussable, for the word “object” as used here must necessarily stand not for a thing but for a hypothesis. There is, for example, no way of telling whether objects are singular or plural, whether one should say the stimulus of the Eiffel Tower experience or the stimuli of the Eiffel Tower experience. If then, it is impossible even for the scientist to escape the essential subjectivity of his sensations, generalizations, and deductions, what do we mean by calling him objective?    1 
 1. Which of the following is NOT a semantic pair?

A. chaos/order
B. fact/fiction
C. sitting/standing
D. light/darkness
E. virtue/vice

2 
 2. Which of the following pairs best exemplifies the subjective/objective opposition as defined by the passage?

A. art/philosophy
B. knower/known
C. object/thing
D. stimulus/stimuli
E. emotion/sensation

3 
 3. The passage refers to “Drink to me only with thine eyes” ( Highlighted ) primarily in order to

A. suggest the affective powers of sound and imagery.
B. exemplify the objective.
C. exemplify the subjective.
D. demonstrate how art can bestow universal significance on an object.
E. illustrate the difference between literal and metaphorical language.

4 
 4. Given the content of the first and second paragraphs, the reader expects that the third paragraph will

A. explain how the scientist is objective.
B. define the identity and conformity of external objects.
C. analyze what it is to be subjective.
D. discriminate between an object and a thing.
E. explore the implications of objectivity.

5 
 5. According to the passage, “objectivity” depends on the assumption that

A. discrete objects exist external to the mind.
B. one’s vocation in life should be logical.
C. subjectivity is a cognitive weakness.
D. science is a viable discipline.
E. the Eiffel Tower is a singular stimulus, not a diffuse experience.

6 
 6. Faced with this statement, “What you see is just in your head,” the author of the passage would be likely to

A. strongly disagree.
B. agree that the statement is probably true.
C. argue against the appropriateness of the word “just.”
D. assume that the person making the statement is not a scientist.
E. argue that what is seen cannot be located outside or inside the mind.

7 
 7. According to the definitions of the third paragraph, which of the following is (are) true of an object?

I. The reality of an object is hypothetical.
II. Whether objects are plural or singular is uncertain.
III. An object is the external cause of a thing.

A. III only
B. I and II only
C. I and III only
D. II and III only
E. I, II, and III

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 164 Date: 22-Apr-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

Source: Cliffs Test Prep.

NCC · Answer

Hello,
Please explain question 6th and 7th.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

6. Faced with this statement, “What you see is just in your head,” the author of the passage would be likely to

Explanation

The author concludes by saying that  “it is impossible even for the scientist to escape the essential subjectivity of his sensations, generalizations, and deductions.”  Since everything is subjective, since different people each see the same thing a bit differently, one is seeming to devalue this case by saying that  “what you say you see is just in your head.”   In your head  is not an unimportant place; according to the passage, it is the only place.

Answer: C

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

7. According to the definitions of the third paragraph, which of the following is (are) true of an object?

Explanation

The  third paragraph  defines an  object  as the  “external cause of a thing—a hypothesis,”  with its singularity or plurality indeterminable. This is a definition peculiar to this passage.

Answer: E

DevendraWarke · Answer

Hello All,

Can someone explain the que 1? Sajjad1994

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. Which of the following is NOT a semantic pair?

Explanation

In  lines 7–9   (The one has no meaning without the other. We may define each by antonym with the other.), the passage says that in a semantic pair  “the one (term)  has no meaning without the other. We may define each by antonym with the other.”  In short, semantic pairs are pairs of direct opposites. Only  C  is not such a pair.

Answer: C

helipatel91198 · Answer

Can someone please explain the answer of the 5th question?

Thanks in advance.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

5. According to the passage, “objectivity” depends on the assumption that

Difficulty Level:   600

Explanation

The author tells us that scientists, whom he defines as objective, are  “primarily concerned with the identity and continuity of the external object that stimulates (their) response.”  That is, to be objective one must believe that the world is a collection of stable objects, each of which always looks the same.

E  is a single example consistent with this assumption but is not itself broad enough to support the question of objectivity in general.

D  is also too broad to be the best answer.

C  is not an assumption allowed by the passage.

Answer: A

Subash_777 · Answer

can someone explain q2,

dhwanit2412 · Answer

Last I heard light and darkness are opposites atleast that's what I have been taught

Let us take the terms subjective and objective and see if we can m

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Let us take the terms subjective and objective and see if we can m

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards