Question

Consider the underlined sentence. What was the new "cosmology" that arose after Darwin's day?
Underlined Sentence: "The thesis of a universal morphing of types shattered this cosmology, replacing the old world-view with a totally new one."

• A. A completely areligious outlook on life.
• B. The view of the world as an unchanging whole to be investigated by science.
• C. The belief that history was an important but secondary aspect of scientific studies.
• D. None of the other answers
• E. The view of the world as a changing reality with its own historical nature.

Hint:

When a question refers to a specific sentence, analyze the key terms within that sentence. The answer is often a paraphrase or logical extension of those key terms. Here, "universal morphing of types" directly translates to a "changing reality with its own historical nature."

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

Step 1: Understanding the Question
The question asks to define the "new cosmology" that replaced the old one, according to the passage. The underlined sentence tells us that Darwin's "thesis of a universal morphing of types" is what created this new worldview.

Step 2: Analyzing the Key Phrase
The key phrase is "universal morphing of types."
- "Morphing" means changing form or structure.
- "Universal" implies this is a fundamental principle.
- "Types" refers to the kinds of creatures or species.
So, the new idea is that species universally change over time. This introduces the concepts of change, development, and history into the very fabric of nature.

Step 3: Evaluating the Options
(A) A completely areligious outlook on life: The passage mentions that even non-believers were "shaken," but it doesn't claim the new view was necessarily "completely areligious." This is too strong a claim.
(B) The view of the world as an unchanging whole: This describes the old cosmology that was shattered, not the new one.
(C) The belief that history was an important but secondary aspect: The new view would suggest history is a primary aspect of biology, not secondary.
(E) The view of the world as a changing reality with its own historical nature: This perfectly captures the essence of a "universal morphing of types." It is a view where reality is not static but is constantly changing and has a history of its own development.
Step 4: Final Answer
The new cosmology introduced by Darwin was one of dynamism and change. The idea of evolution or "morphing of types" means that the world has a historical nature and is not fixed. Option (E) accurately describes this new worldview.