According to the passage, what is the source of modern science?
Show Hint
- Greek astronomy
- None of the other answers
- Egyptian mathematics
- Renaissance scientists
- Renaissance humanists
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question
The question asks to identify the source of "modern science" as described in the passage. We need to analyze the first paragraph, which discusses the historical development of scientific thought leading to modern science (specifically, pre-Darwinian modern physics).
Step 2: Analyzing the Passage
The first paragraph states: "Similarly, the scientific investigations of the ancient Near East and Greece into the regular laws of the stars ultimately looked for constant patterns. This overall pattern of scientific reasoning has left deep marks on the minds of almost all thinkers and found its apotheosis in modern physics."
This text explicitly links the pattern of looking for constant laws, exemplified by the investigations in ancient Greece (Greek astronomy), to the development of modern physics, which the passage calls the "apotheosis" or culmination of this type of scientific reasoning.
Step 3: Evaluating the Options
(A) Greek astronomy: The passage directly mentions "scientific investigations of... Greece into the regular laws of the stars" as an example of the pattern that led to modern physics. This is a strong candidate.
(C) Egyptian mathematics: The passage mentions investigating the "laws of the Nile's flooding," which is related to Egypt, but not specifically Egyptian mathematics as a source for the entire framework of modern science.
(D) Renaissance scientists: The passage states that from the Renaissance onward, physics was the "ultimate expression of scientific investigation," but it describes this as a continuation of the older pattern, not the ultimate source of the pattern itself.
(E) Renaissance humanists: This is not mentioned in the passage.
(B) None of the other answers: Since Greek astronomy is presented as a key example of the historical pattern that culminated in modern science (as defined in the paragraph), this option is incorrect.
Step 4: Final Answer
The passage traces the origin of the scientific mindset that dominated up to the 19th century back to ancient investigations looking for constant patterns, with Greek astronomy being a specific example given. Therefore, it is the most appropriate answer based on the text.
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