Comprehension

Our propensity to look out for regularities, and to impose laws upon nature, leads to the psychological phenomenon of dogmatic thinking or, more generally, dogmatic behaviour: we expect regularities everywhere and attempt to find them even where there are none; events which do not yield to these attempts we are inclined to treat as a kind of ‘background noise’; and we stick to our expectations even when they are inadequate and we ought to accept defeat. This dogmatism is to some extent necessary. It is demanded by a situation which can only be dealt with by forcing our conjectures upon the world. Moreover, this dogmatism allows us to approach a good theory in stages, by way of approximations: if we accept defeat too easily, we may prevent ourselves from finding that we were very nearly right.
It is clear that this dogmatic attitude, which makes us stick to our first impressions, is indicative of a strong belief; while a critical attitude, which is ready to modify its tenets, which admits doubt and demands tests, is indicative of a weaker belief. Now according to Hume’s theory, and to the popular theory, the strength of a belief should be a product of repetition; thus it should always grow with experience, and always be greater in less primitive persons. But dogmatic thinking, an uncontrolled wish to impose regularities, a manifest pleasure in rites and in repetition as such, is characteristic of primitives and children; and increasing experience and maturity sometimes create an attitude of caution and criticism rather than of dogmatism.
Mylogical criticism of Hume’s psychological theory, and the considerations connected with it, may seem a little removed from the field of the philosophy of science. But the distinction between dogmatic and critical thinking, or the dogmatic and the critical attitude, brings us right back to our central problem. For the dogmatic attitude is clearly related to the tendency to verify our laws and schemata by seeking to apply them and to confirm them, even to the point of neglecting refutations, whereas the critical attitude is one of readiness to change them —to test them; to refute them; to falsify them, if possible. This suggests that we may identify the critical attitude with the scientific attitude, and the dogmatic attitude with the one which we have described as pseudo-scientific. It further suggests that genetically speaking the pseudo-scientific attitude is more primitive than, and prior to, the scientific attitude: that it is a pre-scientific attitude. And this primitivity or priority also has its logical aspect. For the critical attitude is not so much opposed to the dogmatic attitude as super-imposed upon it: criticism must be directed against existing and influential beliefs in need of critical revision — in other words, dogmatic beliefs. A critical attitude needs for its raw material, as it were, theories or beliefs which are held more or less dogmatically.
Thus, science must begin with myths, and with the criticism of myths; neither with the collection of observations, nor with the invention of experiments, but with the critical discussion of myths, and of magical techniques and practices. The scientific tradition is distinguished from the pre-scientific tradition in having two layers. Like the latter, it passes on its theories; but it also passes on a critical attitude towards them. The theories are passed on, not as dogmas, but rather with the challenge to discuss them and improve upon them. The critical attitude, the tradition of free discussion of theories with the aim of discovering their weak spots so that they may be improved upon, is the attitude of reasonableness, of rationality. From the point of view here developed, all laws, all theories, remain essentially tentative, or conjectural, or hypothetical, even when we feel unable to doubt them any longer. Before a theory has been refuted we can never know in what way it may have to be modified.

Question: 1

In the context of science, according to the passage, the interaction of dogmatic beliefs and critical attitude can be best described as:

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When a passage describes an improvement process, choose analogies involving refinement or shaping rather than destruction or replacement.
Updated On: Jul 31, 2025
  • A duel between two warriors in which one has to die.
  • The effect of a chisel on a marble stone while making a sculpture.
  • The feedshare (natural gas) in fertilizer industry being transformed into fertilizers.
  • A predator killing its prey.
  • The effect of fertilizers on a sapling.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The passage explains that science starts with dogmatic beliefs (myths, untested theories) but progresses through critical discussion and revision. The critical attitude does not destroy dogmatic beliefs outright but shapes, refines, and improves them — much like a sculptor uses a chisel to shape marble. - Option (1) suggests complete destruction of one side, which contradicts the passage’s idea that criticism builds upon dogma rather than eradicating it.
- Option (2) is the best fit, as it captures the idea of working on an existing form to improve and refine it, without discarding it entirely.
- Option (3) implies a transformation into something entirely new, which doesn’t match the iterative improvement described.
- Option (4) describes a destructive process, which is not the intended meaning.
- Option (5) implies growth and nourishment but lacks the shaping and refinement aspect.
Thus: \[ \boxed{\text{Option (2)}} \]
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Question: 2

According to the passage, the role of a dogmatic attitude or dogmatic behaviour in the development of science is:

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Sometimes even flawed or biased thinking can play a useful role if it initiates a process that later becomes refined by more rigorous methods.
Updated On: Jul 31, 2025
  • Critical and important, as, without it, initial hypotheses or conjectures can never be made.
  • Positive, as conjectures arising out of our dogmatic attitude become science.
  • Negative, as it leads to pseudo-science.
  • Neutral, as the development of science is essentially because of our critical attitude.
  • Inferior to critical attitude, as a critical attitude leads to the attitude of reasonableness and rationality.
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The passage states that dogmatism is to some extent necessary because it forces us to propose and hold onto conjectures long enough to test and refine them. Without this, science could not begin, as initial hypotheses would never be formulated. This means dogmatism plays a foundational role before critical thinking refines the theories. - Option (1) matches the passage’s assertion perfectly.
- Option (2) partially overlaps but is less precise, implying direct transformation into science without refinement.
- Option (3) ignores the constructive role of dogmatism.
- Option (4) contradicts the text’s emphasis on dogmatism’s necessity in initiating science.
- Option (5) downplays its role rather than acknowledging its importance.
\[ \boxed{\text{Option (1)}} \]
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Question: 3

Dogmatic behaviour, in this passage, has been associated with primitives and children. Which of the following best describes the reason why the author compares primitives with children?

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In analogy questions, focus on the precise characteristic being compared rather than superficial similarities.
Updated On: Jul 31, 2025
  • Primitives are people who are not educated, and hence can be compared with children, who have not yet been through school.
  • Primitives are people who, though not modern, are as innocent as children.
  • Primitives are people without a critical attitude, just as children are.
  • Primitives are people in the early stages of human evolution; similarly, children are in the early stages of their lives.
  • Primitives are people who are not civilized enough, just as children are not.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The author associates dogmatism with a lack of willingness to question or modify beliefs. Both primitives and children share this absence of a developed critical attitude, holding onto beliefs rigidly. This is the specific point of comparison, not their education, innocence, or civilization level. \[ \boxed{\text{Option (3)}} \]
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Question: 4

Which of the following statements best supports the argument in the passage that a critical attitude leads to a weaker belief than a dogmatic attitude does?

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Weaker belief here does not mean “less valuable” — it means less rigid, allowing space for change and improvement.
Updated On: Jul 31, 2025
  • A critical attitude implies endless questioning, and, therefore, it cannot lead to strong beliefs.
  • A critical attitude, by definition, is centred on an analysis of anomalies and “noise”.
  • A critical attitude leads to questioning everything, and in the process generates “noise” without any conviction.
  • A critical attitude is antithetical to conviction, which is required for strong beliefs.
  • A critical attitude leads to questioning and to tentative hypotheses.
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The passage contrasts strong, rigid beliefs of dogmatism with the tentative, self-questioning nature of critical thinking. This openness to modification inherently weakens the firmness of belief, even though it improves accuracy. Option (1) captures this essence directly — continuous questioning prevents unshakable conviction. \[ \boxed{\text{Option (1)}} \]
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Question: 5

According to the passage, which of the following statements best describes the difference between science and pseudo-science?

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The hallmark of scientific thinking is falsifiability — a theory must be testable and open to being proven wrong.
Updated On: Jul 31, 2025
  • Scientific theories or hypotheses are tentatively true whereas pseudo-sciences are always true.
  • Scientific laws and theories are permanent and immutable whereas pseudo-sciences are contingent on the prevalent mode of thinking in a society.
  • Science always allows the possibility of rejecting a theory or hypothesis, whereas pseudo-sciences seek to validate their ideas or theories.
  • Science focuses on anomalies and exceptions so that fundamental truths can be uncovered, whereas pseudo-sciences focus mainly on general truths.
  • Science progresses by collection of observations or by experimentation, whereas pseudo-sciences do not worry about observations and experiments.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The passage emphasizes that science maintains a critical attitude — open to refutation, constantly testing and modifying theories. Pseudo-science, in contrast, seeks only to confirm pre-held ideas, avoiding critical challenges. Option (3) captures this distinction precisely. \[ \boxed{\text{Option (3)}} \]
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