Rene Descartes, a 16th century Frenchman often regarded as one of the founders of modern philosophy, penned one of its most famous slogans: “I think, therefore I am.” This statement was the conclusion to an approach of systematic doubt, the goal of which was to arrive at a new foundation for knowledge. He might have been able to doubt all the evidence of his senses, Descartes reasoned, but he could not doubt the proposition that he himself existed to do the doubting. His statement might almost be rephrased as: “I doubt, therefore I am.” Yet despite the fact that philosophers since the early 19th century have made heavy use of this conclusion, Descartes in his own day was most influential as a scientist, not a philosopher. Throughout 16th century Europe, for example, Descartes was well known for his work in physics, geometry, and physiology, and modern scholars still consider him one of the precursors of the scientific revolution. His attempts to use algebra to solve problems of space and motion essentially created the field of analytic geometry, upon which modern applied mathematics is still largely based. Descartes discovered the law of refraction, which explains why straight objects appear bent when immersed partly in water, and was one of the first to theorize that the workings of human bodies can be studied in similar fashion to the workings of machines. Even his “Discourse on Method,” which contained the famous philosophical statement, was intended merely as the framework within which a collection of essays on optics, meteorology, and geometry was to be understood. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage? A. The career of a well-known historical figure is traced chronologically B. Two opposing perspectives on a well-known historical figure are presented C. Two fields of study are compared and contrasted D. A common misconception is introduced, then refuted. E. A common misconception is introduced, then put in wider context.

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V02-13, V02-14, V02-15, V02-16

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AditiM

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20 Nov 2025, 16:47

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I like the solution - it’s helpful.

sunshineeee

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05 Dec 2025, 06:21

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I like the solution - it’s helpful.

sunshineeee

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05 Dec 2025, 06:28

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I like the solution - it’s helpful. However, my initial answer is E. I was wrong in understanding the word interrelated -> I thought from the passage it's not interrelated, because the philosophical aspect is more external drives instead of internal intention from Descartes.

and, I also WRONG at understanding supersaded in A. I thought people more focus on their philosophical work instead of his math work.

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08 Jan 2026, 20:00

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I don’t quite agree with the solution. There's nothing in the passage that points towards a "misconception". The passage nowhere mentions Descartes was only known as a philosopher. Also, even if this was the case - it wouldn't be a misconception because he actually did contribute to both science & philosophy

miag

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08 Jan 2026, 21:16

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Hi,

I can see where you are coming from. Let's break it down:
The passage says:
Rene Descartes, a 16th century Frenchman often regarded as one of the founders of modern philosophy (= in public opinion)
Yet despite the fact that philosophers since the early 19th century have made heavy use of this conclusion, Descartes in his own day was most influential as a scientist, not a philosopher.

Misconception is in simple words = misunderstood belief or notion about someone/something. In RC terms, a misconception doesn’t have to mean something that is completely false. It can simply mean an incomplete or oversimplified understanding.

You are right to say that the passage doesn't say that Descartes was only known as a philosopher - this is exactly why D) is wrong in fact. E) on the other hand says that the passage introduces a common modern view and then places it in a broader historical context, showing that Descartes’ scientific contributions were central in his own era.

Hope this helps!

VidhiJ

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AkankshaU

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10 Jan 2026, 11:03

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I like the solution - it’s helpful.

Vivek1707

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19 Jan 2026, 22:47

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I don’t quite agree with the solution. A poor quality question
None of the answer choices seem correct

A Chonologically tracing ---> if this was true, the passage would say on this date/period this happened etc ... that’s not what is talked about in the passage.

B The passage says that descarte was regarded as the founder of modern philosophy and other philosophers have made heavy use of of his quote, but in his OWN day he was most influential as scientist. Then the next para explains what all he did in terms the work other than philosophy

There are no opposing pespectives.There are only statements of facts

C - Out of scope
D - Misconception is wrong
E - Misconception is wrong

Its mentioned in the passage that Descarte was often regarded as a founder of modern philosophy
Then its mentioned that people use of his quote / conclusion but in his day he was amost influential as a scientists.

There is no misconception. A misconcenption is a widely held belief which is incorrect according to the author.

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19 Jan 2026, 22:50

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Question 1 : A poor quality question. None of the answers make any sense

A Chonologically tracing ---> if this was true, the passage would say on this date/period this happened etc ... that’s not what is talked about in the passage.

B ---> This can be an answer but then where is the opposing perspective ? or rather which is the opposing perspective ?

The passage says that descarte was regarded as the founder of modern philosophy and other philosophers have made heavy use of of his quote, but in his OWN day he was most influential as scientist. Then the next para explains what all he did in terms the work other than philosophy

There are no opposing pespectives. There are only statements of facts

C - Out of scope
D - Misconception is wrong
E - Misconception is wrong

Its mentioned in the passage that Descarte was often regarded as a founder of modern philosophy. Then its mentioned that people use of his quote / conclusion but in his day he was amost influential as a scientists.

There is no misconception. A misconception is a widely held belief which is incorrect according to the author.

miag

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21 Jan 2026, 00:41

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Hi,

Thank you for the thoughtful feedback, this is a very reasonable concern.
You’re absolutely right that the author isn’t arguing, persuading, or explicitly correcting anyone.

Let me try to help clarify on these points:

In GMAT terms, a "misconception" does not have to mean something that is outright false. It often refers to a common or dominant modern view that is incomplete or oversimplified. Here, the passage begins with how Descartes is commonly remembered today (as a founder of modern philosophy, famous for "I think, therefore I am"), and then pivots - signaled by “Yet despite the fact that..." - to place that view in a broader historical context.
The second paragraph shows that in his own time, Descartes was primarily influential as a scientist, and that even his famous philosophical work was closely tied to scientific aims. That move is not a refutation (which would support D), but a contextualization, which is why (E) is the best fit.
So while the author is stating facts rather than expressing an opinion, the organizational pattern is still:
a commonly held modern view → placed in wider historical context.

Hope this helps!

Vivek1707

I don’t quite agree with the solution. Poor quality answer choices

To argue + 'should' ---> means to have strong opinion + suggestion

There is no explicit suggestion in the passage

The suggestion is implicit at best. Author is just stating facts

Not representative of the GMAT RC

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08 Apr 2026, 09:31

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I don’t quite agree with the solution. Here in passage its mentioned that "..the famous philosophical statement, was intended merely as the framework ", so it was worked merely as a framework whereas option E says "closely" interrelated, it seems not in tone with the passage.